Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-07-20
PRECIOUS JEWELS.
One OF the Most sorviceabis and Popular
stones Il the Turquoise.


stones Il the Turquoise.
There are few gems more commonly
seen In Jewelry than the lovely blue
turquoise. Its beauty, It's service, its
pleasing contrast with gold. all explain
why II is so much preferred to other
ordinary stones
Only n few exceptionally fine speci-
mems Of the stone rank with the "rich
and rare gems" Much and widely as
the turquoise is used for personal adorn-
ment, the supply hns for some time
considerably exceeded the demand, ex-
cept for fine stones Of an uncommon
size. But Us il tho case with all pre-
cious stones, unusually large pieces Of
this stone, when Of good quality, arc
eagerly sought after and have a very
high value.
The turquoise has bcon used as gem
from very remote period, as IL is most
plentifully found along the shores of
the Caspian sea, within the space be-
lieved by many 10 have been tho cradle
of the human race.
II Is asserted by historians that tho
ancient Grecians used II In almost all
the finest and most delicate of their
work In gold. Want Of certainty about
the name by which this stone was
known in ancient times prevents our
being able to tell what mystic virtues
were attached 10 IL, but In the middle
ages II was supposed 10 have wonderful
qualities. Indeed, II was credited with
many supernatural virtues.
The wearer of u turquoise had his
strength increased and his sight pro-
longed. II he happened TO have n Sc
rious fall the consequences were avert
ed from him by the cracking and sub
sequent crumbling OF the gem, and In
case of his illness at any time his tur-
| quoise became paler and paler, and II
It's possessor died lost its color entirely,
but recovered again on passing into the
hands OF new owner Other precious
gems seem Of late years TO have lost all
claim 10 the former marvellous powers
ascribed to them, but the turquoise
still retains one OF its mysterious prop
critics, and parades IL to the present
day,
Sometimes slowly, sometimes sud-
denly, IL turns pale, becomes spotted
and finally changes from blue TO white.
and specimens OF this kind are rare and
valuable.
Turquoises are found In Thibet, China
and Mount Sinai, but the handsomest
ones for jewelers. purposes come from
Persian mines. They arc found i'm
bcdded In masses OF rock and the mines
are more than one hundred and fifty
feet deep, and many laborers are en-
ployed in them, the oldest OF whom buy
the gems and sell them in turn TO trav-
elers and merchants Other men buy
the rough stones and polish them be-
fore selling. These, Of course, com
mand high prices,
The stones are divided into three
classes-first, second and third quail
ties. All stones OF perfect color and
shape belong 10 the first class, but Il
tiny speck Of green, which only n con-
noisseur can detect will consign hand
some stone 10 second-class matter.
| Then there is hat undefnable proper.
| ~ Of "A good turquoise, like the water
Of diamond or the luster Of Il pearl.
In turquoise II Is called Eat" A fine
colored turquoise without the Eat Is
not worth much. Among the finest
| Jewels of the shah there Is a fine tur-
| quoise valued at four thousand dollars
| The third-class stones are those with
decided flaws and unstable In Persia.
The small prices offered for such there
are more than doubled by the time
they reach Europe. They are cut by
hand and polished on a fine-grained
sandstone, and then on a piece Of soft
leather with turquoise dust. II is quite
the fashionable stone of the present
day, and when set with diamonds no
gem can equal II in beauty. An ultra
society woman is not happy until she
is the possessor Of such a jewel.
cinnati Star-Sayings.