Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1889-07-05
IMITATION GEMS.
How They Are Made-Why Paste Dia-
monds Are So Frequently Worn.

A New York Mail and Express re-
porter recently asked Maiden Lane
diamond merchant, pointing to a PEN
dant in the window:
''Do you mean to say those are not
diamonds?"
No more diamonds than they are
eggs. Simply exceeding fine speci-
mems of French paste, which is the
best imitation of the diamond yet dis
covered" was the reply.
What is French paste?'"
at is peculiar kind of glass. per-
fected in Paris by Donault-Wieland.
Its basis is finely powered rock crys-
tai melted with other minerals"
Are these limitations as brilliant
and expensive as the dou5lets-the
gems made by imposing a thin face of
real diamond on backing of rock
crystal?"
''They are more brilliant and cost
less in proportion to size-much less;
but the doublets are by far the most
durable"
What other gems are initiated as
successfully as the diamond?"
"Rubies and sapphires even more
so. The limitations of them actually
possess the same chemical composition
AS the real stones. The gems SO made
are expensive. but much less SO than
the real stones, aud are very hard.
with fine luster and excellent color, il
the proportions of the material are
exactly right Emeralds, topazes.
garuets, and various other more or
less valuable gems are all well initiated
IN glass colored with different silicates
and oxides. Sham pearls are also SO
well made that, when properly set,
they can not be distinguished from gem
uine ones. The are simply beads of
clear glass. coated inside vita a
iustrous solution obtained from the
scales of some small fishes - bleak
aud dace. | think, the fishes are called.
IL takes the scales of 10000 of the
fishes To make two pounds of the So
luton which is called Essence d.
Orient The imitation pearls are
more durable than the real ones. W hich
are liable Ia be injured by perspIra-
ton or various other iucidents of
wear
''Reverting TO that French paste; are
there many of that sort of diamonds
solu III tIis county!
"A great many. Reputable dealers
sell them for what they are. and their
price--for fine ones such ss these-is
sufficiently high TO keep them from be-
Ing offered as cheap stuff To the masses.
Jet great numbers are worn"
why do persons of means invest in
bogus gems?"
ror various reasons One does
uSeSs.s la Ar.p la, Ac.i ny Ia .nc. . u.
name, { the large amount of money
that would be required to purchase
diamonds in such size and number as
society might expect him or her to
have. so few really tine stones are
purchased for habitual wear, To chal-
leuge criticism. and brilliant array
Of 'French pastes is provided for show
upon occasions when big display 10
expected and there will be no dam
ger of close critical inspection. The
few real stones have made a repu.a-
,ion. You see. that covers the others.
Another may own plenty of diamonds
aud actually have them in his possess
sion. too. yet be too prudent to expose
them to the danger Of loss or theft in
a mixed multitude. Aud | know Of
yet another class of French paste
wearers: Young men who are in So
ciety,' but with seanty means To keep
up n semblance Of style-'dudes.' as
they are popularity styled. One Of
those fellows last winter managed TO
become engaged to very pretty
girl who has solid expectations and
actually hads the cheek TO give her
French paste engagement ring. He
knew that "A diamond had TO be forth
coming under the circumstances. but
real one was far beyond either his
purse or his credit, and he imagined
that his tiancee would never know the
difference il he gave her bogus one.
And perhaps she would not but her
sharp old mother, who had an eye like
hawk. suspected it and came to me
for judgment. Nobody could have
told her better than /. for | had sold
the young fellow the ring. He was
dropped SO suddenly and so hard that
he has been dizzy ever since"
"Has anybody had yet the bright
idea of starting the manufacture Of
French paste diamonds here as one
of our industries?"
"No. The French stand first in it,
and the Germans are rather poor Sec
ond, but we are nowhere. The situ-
alton may be different. however, in
the course of the next four years"