The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-07-14
MAKe-BELlEVE DIAMONDS.
Tie Way Trench Paste l. Made and
slammed on rs the Rcal Article.

The formula for compromising French
paste, which l. q peculiar kind Of glass
perfected in Paris by Donaul.-Wieland,
is as follows: Rock crystal. six ounces;
red lead, nine and aquarter ounces; purc
carbonate Of potash, three ounces and
three drachms. boracic acid, three
drachms; white arsenic, six grains
When fused. thoroughly interbiended,
cooled, cut and polished. in diamond
/ forms. it takes q good expert 10 tell the
gems so made from tho real ones. Tho
moro oxide Of lead is added. up to n GER
tain point, the greater Is the resultant
brilliincy. but tho softer the glass and
consequently the less permanently TO its
effect.
Persons Of means invest in bogus gems
for various reasons. One does not care
TO keep locked up in nero ornament the
large amount Of money that would be
required to purchase diamonds in such
size am number AS society might expect
him or her TO have, so a few really fine
stones nre purchased for habiual wear,
20 challenge criticism AMI a brilliant ar
ray Of French pastcs" is provided for
show upon occasions when big display Is
expected and there will be no danger OF
close critical inspection. The few real
stones have made a reputation that
covers tho others. Who is going 10 sus-
pect a very rich man on WOman-say one
OF the "400'-of wearing bogus gems.
And vet the very rich are just the ones
who do wear them most. Another per
SON in society may be tho actual owner
Of a fine lot Of family diamonds. which
are temporarily in pledge, a fact that
must not be suspected by others, and will
not, 50 long as French pasto' can show
It's honest glitter in the seeming likeness
Of tire hypothecated treasures. Still
another may own plenty Of diamonds
and actually have them in possession,
too. yet be too prudent TO expose them TO
the danger Of loss or theft in a mixed
multitude. so long as alt tho effect OF
their splendor may De produced &C much
.cs. risk
Rub.es and sapphires arc even moro
successfully initiated than diamonds.
The limitations Of them actually possess
iho same chemical composition rs tho
real stones. Equal quantities of alminia
and red lead arc heated to a rel heat in
au carthonwarc cruciale. 4 vitrcous
substance is formed, which consists OF
silicato Of lead and crystal OF white
corondum. These are fused with hi-
chromate Of potassium 20 form the ruby
or with little oxide Of cobalt and . very
small quantity of bichromate oi Yotas-
stun TO mako the sapphire. The gems
SD made are expensive. but much less SO
than the real stones, and are very hard.
with fine luster and excellent color. If
the proportions OF the materials are OK
actly right. Emcralds, topazes, garnets
and various other more or less valuable
gems are well initiated in glass colored
with different siiicaies and oxides. Sham
pearls are also SD wcil made that, when
properly set, they cannot ie distinguished
from genuine ones They are simply
beads If clear glass coated inside with
mstr0us solution obtained from ihe scales
of some small s. acs uicah anl dacc. ID
takes tie Gales OF 10000 cf ihe fishes e.
make two pounds %, 'ho solution. which
is called Essence dOri rt" 1he imita-
ton pearl ue mou durable than tie
real ones. which are halle to bo injured
by perspiraiionor various other incidents
Vi wear. philadelphia Times.