The morning call., 1894-06-24
self as to be otherwise with so many kind
friends greeting me-"
GEORGE E. BARNES.
PRECIOUS STONES.
Diamonds, Rubies and EmeraIds
Which Are Not Genuine.

Diamonds, Rubies and EmeraIds
Which Are Not Genuine.
The practice of falsifying precious
stones. especially diamonds. In order to
make them appear TO the inexpert more
valuable, is not by any means modern. It
can be traced back to the fifteenth century,
and to Holland, where diamond cutting
and setting had its rise as an art. The
business Is still staple one in Amster-
dam; but of late years many of the best
workmen have settled in London. ana the
diamond-cutting industry In Holland has
sensibly declined. With the growth of
the trade in diamonds and other precious
stones various illegitimate means were de-
vised OF imposing upon the purchasing
public and enhancing The apparent value
of gems offered for sale. Some of these
practices date back hundreds of years,
others belong to modern period and are
almost coincident with comparatively re-
cent discoveries in chemical science.
BY dealers and the trade generally dia-
monds are separated into various classes
and known by special names. These
terms relate mainly to the method in
which gem Is cut Diamonds cut to
point, with more OF less facets, are called
brilllants; those presenting fiat surface
are known as table stones. The term
brilliant is properly applied only to a stone
cut In certain form, but in the practice
OF the trade il is given also to colorless
sapphires, rub1es. emeralds, oriental to-
PAGES and few other gems. All such
stones, whether quite colOrless or with
greenish. yellowish or blush tint, are of
equal value. provided they reach given
standard of hardness.
Formerly spurious diamonds were most
ly formed from rock crystals. Many OF
the so-cnIled diamonds found in antique
snuff-boxes, watches and miniature frames
are in reality rock-crystal limitations of
real gems.
The value of diamonds and other gems
depending mainly upon their bulk. the eff
forts Of ialsifiers have been chiefly directed
to increasing the proportions. The princi-
pal mode Of so doing is known as ''doub-
ling" 1t was in use in the seventeenth
century. and case lately before the law
courts in reference to a so-called ruby
shows that it is flourishng. 1t consists in
Joining together with cement portion of
real stone and an imitation, so as to
make the combination appear one and in
Invisible. This is the most common form
OF deceit in the jewel trade. If some of
the jewels priced by noble and princely
houses were taken 20 pieces and carefully
examined by an expert the result might as
tonish the owners. Some surprising dis
coveries of this kind have been made when
family jewels were remounted.
Ii is to guard against receptions of this
kind that jewellers and dealers in precious
stones decline to buy gems in their set
tings. When the gem is unset it can
easily be subjected TO ready and intalli-
bic test. a stone about which there may
be suspicion is dropped into dish of very
hot water. If il is "doublet" the cement
quickly dissolyes and tine com ponent parts
tall asuDder. But "doublets'' are also
made in which the real diamond finds no
place.
1t mas been stated that diamonds are
seldom bought by the trade after they are
mounted. They are generally taken out OF
the setting for inspection. This Is more
especially the case If the stones are so
mounted 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 tho hue of the gem. For ill.,
stance, ruby will glow with deeper and
more intense fire if the bottom and sides
of the setting wherein it is fixed be colored
red.-St. Louis POsr-Dispatch.