The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-07-01
TEST YOUR DIAMONDS.
Simple Rules by Which Ordinary
Frauds May Be Easily Detected.
From the Pail Mall Gazette.

FROM the Pau Mail Gazette.
The value of diamonds and other gems
depending mainly upon their bulk, the
efforts of the falsifiers have been chiefly
directed to increasing the proportions.
The principal mode of so doing is known
as doubling" 1t consists in joining to-
gether with cement a portion of real
stone and an imitation, 50 as TO make the
com blnation appear one and indi-
visible. This can be done so
deity that the initiated are sometimes
deceived. So long as com Oination
of this kind remains unset the expert dis
covers 1t usually by close examination
of the edges; when il is mounted in a
ring, bracelet, or other setting recogui-
tion is practically impossible. This is the
most common form OF deceit in the jewel
trade. If some of the jewes priced by
noble and princelv houses were taken TO
pieces and carefully examined by an ex-
pert the result might ast0nish the owners.
Some surprising discoveries of this kind
have been made when family Jewels were
being remounted.
II is to guard against receptions of this
kind that jewelers. and dealers in precious
stones decline to buy gems in their set
tlngS. When the gem is unset it can cas-
lily be subjected 10 a ready and iulalli-
BILE test. A stone about which there
may be suspicion is dropped into dish OF
very hot water Ii it is a "doublet" the
cement quickly dissolves and the com
.ponent parts fall asunder But doubles"
are also made in which the real diamond
finds no place. The art of glass manufac-
ture has made many advances
has taught those who make it
their business to fabricate spurious gems
that a better result and a closer imitation
| of the genuine article can be obtained by
| joining two pieces of glass of diverse
shades. 1t is managed in this way: The
top portion Of the false brilliant IS made
from glass in which there Is a pale yellow
or Straw-colored tinge. In the under side
of this socket is drilled into this socket
is fitted a stem of glass of a light blush
shade, the result of the combination being
that the false stone CLEANS and sparkles
like gem of the puresU water. The best
limitations OF this description are so eff
fective that when well mounted they de-
ceive all but the best judges
Among the tests used by dealers and
| jewelers. to ascertain not only the reality
| but the quality of diamonds offered for
sale is that of resistance of hardness.
| Few professionals are without a case of
proved diamonds, graded according TO the
! degree of hardness. All purchases are
tested by this scale, and their quality as
certained. A specially constructed mi
croscope is used to distinguish colors in
! stones. 1t has been stated that diamonds
are seldom bought by the trade
after theytare mounted They are
generally taken out of the setting
| for inspection. This is more espe-
cially the case if the stones are so noun ed
that the under portion is hidden. One of
| the oldest tricks of the trade is to so color
the bed in which the stone rests as to
change the hue of the gem. For instance
ruby will glow with a deeper and more
intense fire if the bottom and sides of the
setting wherein it is fixed be colored red.
! The shade of stone can be altered or a
| flaw concealed by the skillful use of col
ors in this way. Naturally this device
does not deceive the initiated A perfect
stone is invariably mounted "a Jour" or
so that every part of it is visible.
The discovery of diamonds in South
Africa led indirectly TO some clever de-
ceit by the dealers. Many of the South
African diamonds have straw tint,
which has an unfavOrable effect on their
! price, especially as experts believe that it
Will become more decided the longer the
stones are exposed to the air. Some of
the more knowing dealers discovered that
| by sucJect1ng the straw-tinted diamond
| to bath of certain acids the objection
| able color was remol ed and the gems be-
came pure white A number of dia-
monds so treated were sold in Paris and
Berlin, and brought higher prices than
they would if they had retained their orig
lnal color After exposure to the action Of
the air for a certain time the original color
returns, but by that time they have
| passed out of the dealers hands The
fraud was soon found out by the trade.
and they now guard against impositions
OF such character by means of various
tests OF these the most generally used
are the hot water bath and friction. If a
dyed stone be left in hot water for few
minutes 1t resumes its original hue; or if
the gem be rubbed sharply on a towel, or
even on the coat sleeve its normal color
can be detected. These tests are simple
and eficacious and are in daily use