New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-20
DIAMONDS ~ THE ROUGH.


From The Westminster Budget.
Mr. Abrahams. having taken my instruction n
hand. was determined perform his task thor
oughly Going to a mighty safe. he took out and
brought TO me a small paper package which he
spread open on the table. II contained some ten
transparent yellow Jumps which reminded me OF .
certain gum-like jujube have seen at chemists
These are some rough diamonds said he
"And what would one Of those ten be worthT
asked.
This one" said he. taking ack-lustre pebble be-
tween his fingers ~ 1t were cut, would fetch fl""
Then he brought for my inspection quite large
packet OF what looked like mass OF graysh steel
glistening gravel. There must have been thousands
many hundreds at any rate-of items In this pile.
ANY one Of those would not be worth much"
said l.
"You are right" said Mr.. Abrahams but there's
fourteen or fifteen hundred pounds worth there. all
the same"
could not help / observed the proximity OF the
pile thinking Of Lazarus at the gate or DIVES ous
woke up to consider two fresh lots OF treasure
whites" and "by-waters," so termed from their
colcr After that Mr. Abrahams opened to my visit
full gaze paper full Of what he called broken stun,
or cleavage. This consists of broken diamonds at
tached to baser. darker material.
See this piece" said Mr. Abrahams; ut weighs
four carats We shall sell II probably for U.s.
carat because the cutter will brilliant OF only
a q III
In buying that brilliant you are paying for a good
deal Of skilled labor"
But the brilliant from one OF those rough dia-
monds the yellow ones, the whites. or the by
waters. would be relatively larger?
oh yesr' said Mr. Abrahams. the brilliant ~
as a rule thiryeight per cent OF the rough stone
And do many middlemen come between you rousa
diamond merchants and the manufacturer?
THE trade" replied my courteous informant, II
cut 10 that extent that It doesn't allow OF many prof.
it's The manufacturer buys direct from US Inc
dealer here has very little scope you see. and Is not
an important factor in the business
And which tn, centres of the manufacturing
i e. the damond-cutting -business?
Amsterdam and Antwerp. and since the heavy
tariff on brilliants was imposed the United States"
What is the American tax on brilliants?
Twenty five per cent. and on rough stones " per
cent. That has caused rough diamonds TO be manu-
featured in America. mainly in New-York There
are some cutters in Brooklyn. but that Is practically
! the same as New-York There many manu-
facturers there"
"And where does the labor come from
"Oh, the Americans nave imported most OF it from
Antwerp and Amsterdam"
''But men might see in that an argument 10,
protection Let put a tariff on all articles OF
luxury they will say, and you create native IN
dustres while the worst result is that the rich pay
But" said Mr.. Abrahams. shocked at my sus.
nap cent and diamonds so portable so easily hid
zone might quilt fortune in the lining OF ones
coat. DO they search|
Yes and II is very annoying said Mr. Abra.
hams IL know very respectable people-friends OF
nv own, who would not do anything Objectionable
for the world like smuggling you know-have been
searched by the customs officers
IT'S an abominable indignity II you're innocent.
and horrid nuisance If you're not said sympa-
thetically. -,
"Well now" went on. we've got as FAR as the
damond-cutters of Antwerp, Amsterdam and New
York When these manufacturers have turned the
rough diamonds into brilllants. TO whom do they
sell? To the retail shOpkeeperI
mo" said Mr. Abrahams. tho manufacturers
trade with the dealers in brilliants. A diamonds
cutter couldn't keep his factory going II he had 70
deal with the retailers. He sells his parcels to the
dealer who goes round with them TO the shops, IL
may be 10 some small man with q matter OF two
hundred rings in his window. who wants only Jew
tiny brants TO complete an ornament. But tnat
doesn't concern our firm. We deal only In rough
diamonds. and have nothing TO do with brilliants
In response a question OF mine about diamond
thieves. Mr.. Abrahams, TO whom the subject was
palpably not pleasant one. replied: -
oh they don't knock man down. They lay
traps for him in the welknown case or the post
man in Hatton Garden and In the affair OF Mr spey.
er last year. Such robberies, OF course. demand
good deal OF ingenuity In laying plot 49,
They are rarely caught the diamond thieves a.,
Very rs rely. You see diamonds are 50 easily c,s.
posed Of and it's almost impossible TO swear 10 ths
identity OF a diamond II It's mixed with others
Then Mrs Langtrys chance Of seeing her Jew
elry again Is small?' 49,, ,.
THE gold is probably melted down by this time
said Mr. Abrohams land who is TO swear TO ths
diamonds and stones after they are out OF the SET
tlngs?'