The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-28
The PARIS DIAMOND MARKET.


Prom the Fiearo.
It was the Abb6 Ha1y who subjected dia-
monds to tho toughest treatment. He used to
take a hammer and smash them. He did the
same with emeralds. rubies, and sapphires. Just
as II they were worth nothing. By this heroic
treatment the venerable Abb6 discovered that
the broken PARTICLES Of all precious stones
have particular forms which establish their
Cenuineness beyond all doubt. Before his
time it was almost impossible to tell a diamond
from q brilliant or a piece Of rock crystal.
But now nobody breaks precious stones.
Any dealer can take. with an Indifferent air.
the diamond that is presented to him for ex-
animation. and say. without the least hesits-
tlon: THAT weighs SO much: 1t is n little fell
low: 1t Is worth 80 much" And he is never
deceived, At the present time everybody is
somewhat Of q dealer, and the consequence is
mond among a thousand bogus stones.
On the second floor OF a cafe in the Boule.
ward yasd,d Mea atnn.s e the hs,a m sIxst or r hour hourss e., Of
light: Very, few strangers to the trade can
penetrate this sanctuary. not because the nc
wide open. but because the portfolios close
and the stars disappear the moment an un;
Of animated traders the stranger only iinds a
cams game Of bfziaue; Ah!ti Sut there is a
much like Couderc Of the Opera Comique. ex-
cept that he Ia yellow and wenrs very loose
m moness' DON'T mt believe sItsS i for a mom nen tt chat fi these "sse
good Jews. the merchants in precious stones.
s sss sft tsst G Sot 5SSs's tsem That Mh is th tss sm alsas
jewellers. know the real vaIne OF their goods.
stretch out and the portfolios. reappear. The
greater plumber Of these portfolios arc made
3 m5 tim aad t Ere f'SsSa w ars " 'c tSs. snd r ksy. ,l 1T /"
which the d%rugglsis put rhu6arb or snlphats
the tables. including tie billiard table:
might startie tho King Of Persia, 4 Strange inas
spectacle is presented by those sordid old men
quietly taking from their pockets three, or
four millions worth. Each one OF perhaps ten
i%iants. After they are disposed Of the rare
as big as nuts. There lies a black diamond
almost as large as the twelve pearls that sur.
s},nsn it. s,n n9rsdj sg 9Tat is wo a ne aaHs a made %ss OF
snuff. boxes. certainly. not big enough for II.
Hyacinthe q the palais Royal but too big. be-
"Here IS a raro bargain shouts ons of the
merchants. "one Of tho finest pieces OF ancient
to seyMf ada nn' IA Prin nc Is e a Dc Gna@e enae 0e Moant.
RS F4s5ii. staHSfH@ 4eid "aS g & S Sira nss'iS for it t 1Ssnfs
The necklace is passed from hand to hanu.
The merchants Eazs Mt it with attention; The
eyeElaSSeS come lntO plAy. lnucclslon ana
doubt are painted upon some faces At last
the necklace is passed to Michel. He Is the
great Judge. .He takes the thing. weighs 1t in
his hand. looks at it with an Indifferent air.
They. com with their mounting from ths
finer. one. formed part q a necklace which
SIM. This necklace belonged later on to Lady
Temple, whose husband purchased it at
it to her daughter. who sold it three. days alter
her marriage. As fort the sapphire in tho CEN
tire, that comes from the sale Of Nile. schnei-
Hamburg. But. after all. Il Is we'll preserved.
and ,75.O00 francs does not seem to be too
much for It,"
As cxtraordinary as It may appear. there are
tho costly diamonds and all the rich Jewels in
tho world. and they Rro able to recognize them
after a lapse OF thirty years. even when they
Ind first only seen them a moment. as Ger
PAGES the customer that forgott TO pay, him.
When n robbery iscommlttel in tho houss OF
q well-known lsweIler. a thing which often
Petersburg. II there Ia, among the objects
stolen a stone Of more than ordinary, value it
Is sure to be found again. although 1t may
take many years to bring it back to its owner.