Clarksville evening chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn) 1886-1890, 1888-11-15
A JEWELLERS TREASURES.
An Geld Does Not Glltter-Diamonls for
Enrtv Ccnta--Imitatlons.

An Geld Does Not Glltter-Diam0nds for
Forty Contamination.
Sometimes I think that the adage, ''all
is not gold that glitters, needs to be re-
constructed by people in our line Of bust
ness and made 10 read, ''all gold does not
glitter" remarked one Of the leading
manufacturing jewellers OF Pittsburg to
the writer. In proof of this assertion he
exhibited several pieces of gold, as nearly
pure as it can be, and still be worked to
good advantage. The material looked
very much like old brass, and was SO
dingy and lusterless that none but an ex-
pert would have pronounced it gold.
Two small straight pieces, in shape and
size very much like small horseshoe nails,
were shown, and these, the jeweler said,
would be transformed into the main por-
ton of finger ring, after being bent,
shaped and properly joined together. The
piece designed to form the top of the ring
In which the stone is set, is separate. 1t
is shaped like tray, having been given
this form by die or stamp, by means
of which it was cut from q piece Of rolled
gold.
The manufacturer next unlocked his
safe and brought forth some of its rare
and costly treasures. There were dia~
monds, rubies, pearls, emeralds, sap
phires, amethysts and scores of other
precious stones, in infinite variety, from
all parts of the earth.
1--WE are obliged to keep large stock
on hand, said the jeweler, ''much larger
than the eastern manufacturers, who are
able to send out and buy what they want
at any time. A good deal of our work
consists in tho making Of badges, pins,
medals and other designs to order, at
short notice, and large assortment of
precious stones is therefore indispensable.
We have diamonds of every size, ranging
from large and perfect stones several
carats in weight and worth hundreds OF
dollars, down to the merest speck, cost
ing less than half o dollar. Yes, you can
buy q genuine diamond for 40 cents, but
it won't lie large enough to he remarka-
bly, conspicuous. Pearls, too, we have
in great numbers, some larger than peas
and others smaller than pinheads. The
greater part of these gems are cut and
polished abroad. Even the California
pearl, fished from tho ocean by divers
along the Pacific coast, goes abroad to
the hands of German hpidaries, and is
then brought bacl; to this country to bo
get in iewelrv. TIE greater number Of
pearls found ;rc imperfect, and all such
have to be cut, making what are known
as half pearls.
Two carry, also, large stock Of imi-
tation stones. Every real gem is imi-
tated, and the more precious the stone
| the greater will be tho number of imitaS
tions. Many of the limitations are so per-
feet that only experts can distinguish
them from tho genuine. All stones for
settings are bought by us, cut and poll
ished and ready for use. They are all
graded according to the French measure
ment, and the packages containing them
marked with the exact size Of each
| piece in millimetres. Take this line of
| turquois, for instance, and you will OBJ
serve that each has the same pattern rum
ming through all the different sizes.
Fashion rules in jewelry, as in every
| thing else. A stone at one time very
popular in rings may go out of style en-
tircly in few years Hence, unless we
take tho utmost care, we arc liable to
| have al accumulation of costly material
on our hands, with no chance of getting
rid of it until fashions caprice brings it
into favor again"
For weighing diamonds and other
precious stones very delicate instru-
nent, known as the diamond scale, is
lsed. 1t consists of balances, and is so
delicate that il will turn when q weight
equal to one sixty-fourth part Of carat
is placed upon it. The smaller weights
used on tho scales are Of aluminium, the
lghtest metal known. and piece one
sisty.fourth of carat in weight is but
small, fllmy scale that tho breath would
lnoyc.-E. w. Bartlett in Pittsourg Dis
patch.