The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-11-10
EXE IN DIAMONDS.
Queer Facts Told by Jewellers About the
Precious Gems.

Queer Facts Told by Jewellers About the
Precious Gems.
In the big show window of q jew,lry store
rested last week a small tray that gathered
a crowd of curious spectators to the
window. Every time the sunlight played
upon the plate glass the tray cor
uscated with prismatic hues of dazzling
brillianoy. The tray is well known to the
trade. 1t is designed to display the re-
markable variations of the color of large
African mine diamonds, and contains ex-
amples of all the colors known. 1t pos
sesses great interest for novices in gems.
and the iewe!er is called Upon half a dozen
times a day to explain the beauties of the
specimens.
st took a long time to get this collection
together" the jeweler said, "and it is the
only one in the own of the iii thus ar
ranged. You see here the brown diamond,
the absinthe, the canary or yellow, the gem,
the pink. the rose. the coffee and the
green diamond. The effect of these com
binations in the sunlight is enhancing.
Each predominant hue seems to impart a
distinct luster to the prismatio scintilla-
lions. When the tray ia swung to and fro
in the sunbeams it gives forth. as you see, a
perfect blaze Of rainbow colors. These
gems also illust ate different cuttings of the
diamonds. Were they all set in a bracelet
or a brooch or q necklace, they would make
a rarely beautiful trinkst. but it would cost
a heap of money"
The jeweler picked out one sparkler with
q pair of diamond tweeZers and held it for
ward in the show window.
"Ihis is a Brazilian gem,'' he said,
like which there is only one other in the
world. in Paris, and the French one ia no
as pure or as large as this. This is What, is
called a black diamond and is valued at
S., $500. It weighs a .trifie less than foul
carats. It's beauty lies in the fact that it
changes its color in different lights. In
this strong sunlight YOU see it is almost
black, but it gives forth a prismatio radi-
ance greater than that emitted by the best
of the black gems. In gasliRht, you OBJ
serve, the black hue becomes a rich golden
brown, and the play of color5 is changed
too. Diamonds of this sort are regarded by
the superstitious miners rs gold stones
that is, gems possessing a power OF impart-
ing good luck to the owner in the search for
hidden gold. This stone was secured in
Paris, whittier it was brought in rough for
cutting by a Rio Janeiro merchant.
Here" continued the ieweler, lis an
other curiosity. He picked up a three
carat white stone with the tweezers. at is
a specimen that will prove to you that there
is a difference of sex IN the gems. This is
what is called the female, a multiplying
diamond" He held the gem under a strong
magnifying glass and pointed to four or
five smaller diamonds clustered about one
of the facets at the edge of the table Of the
stone, "The male gen." the jeweler sal d,
zig sharp-pointed. and never gathers these
embryo gems. There is q fine specimen
alongside that pink stone. 1t surprises
most people who see those specimens to be
told that they are of different sex as we'll as
color, but such is the fact. "-Jewelers Re-
view.