The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1886-11-25

'SuCC6SSlul VI tHc carly cAp0IIusoueS
tried in the way of diamond production
was that worked out by GannaJ. a
Frenchman, who in the year 1828ssuc-
ceeded in producing a substance that
was affirmed by a practical jeweleS of
great repute to be a diamond; but!lfter
much controversy, the opinion canle to
be ultim ately entertained that even
Gannal had failed. Another famous
Frenchman,. M. Desprets, made several
endeayors in the same direction with
partial success; he produced matter at
all events with which it was found to
be possible to cut and polish the harder
gems. A Monsieur de Chaud Conrtois
has also entered upon various eSperi-
ments with a view to the production of
''real' diamonds, but, SO far as we
know, without having achieved success.
Mr.. MacTier's experiments at the st
Rollox chemical works in Glasgow
have been so recently discussed as not
to require farther reference.
The so-called Scottish jewelry,"
made from cairngorms, cinnamon
stone, etc., is largely manufactured in
Germany, where most of the stores re-
quired are quite plentiful. 1t is COM
mon enough to impose the cairIsgorm
on ignorant purchasers as Brazilian
or Mexican topaz. Edinburgh lap
idaries are able to prepare and mount
the cairngorm and pebbles of Scotland
with taste and skill. Crystals of smoky
quartz are found in every part of the
globe, and can be SO skilfully. dealt
with by lapidaries and experts a. to be
made deeper or lighter in color SIS may
be demanded. Each manipulatoy is of
course careful to preserve his part:cu-
lar mode of procedure secret from his
fellows; and some of them arr; very
clever in their various manipulations
of Scottish stones, which can be set
with fine effect in brooches. snuff-mulls.
dirks and powder horns.
'Mock-pearls' are the subject of fire.
quentdiscussion. The wonderfulluster
and exquisite polish of the rea. gem
of the sea have been more thaa once
initiated with almost the power of
| nature But there is something about
this beautiful and mysterious ps'oduc-
ton which in the end tells against all
attempts at fraud. The imitation,
tested with the real gem, provides one
source of detection. and the brittle ma
ture of the manufactured article is an
other. Another matter is that the ex-
| quisitely drilled holes which are char
acteristic of the pearls of the East are
wanting in all limitations, the drilling
in the latter case being usually clum ~
| and blunt edged. The scales of asmall
fish known as the bleak have been sue
cessfully used in the formation CT false
| pearls; but as it requires some eighteen
thousand of these fish to provide one
pound-weight of the pearl-making ma
| terial, it seems superfluous to say that
only very limited number of gems
can be made from the scales of the
| bleak.
Hera we pause, not having space left
| in which to discuss the ''manufacture"
of cameo's, or the production of that
mystery gold which two years ago
afforded so much material for news
paper discussion. Atthe present time,
when pictures and pottery, old furni-
ture, articles of virtu of all kinds, coins.
and even birds eggs are forged. it is
not a matter for surprise that spurious
diamonds. mock-pearls, and limitations
of many of our more precious gems
should be foisted on the public by un-
scrupulous tradespeople. Neverthe-
less, so long Us lady can purchase for
. few pounds necklace or other
adornment which, if genuine, would
have cost hundreds or perhaps thou
sands of pounds, the imitation gem
| trade will continua tn flourish - Chm IN.
bers' journal.