Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-15
SHIPPING.
TO TRACE STOLEN JEWELS.
Jewellers Keep Descriptive ne
cord of Their stock.
(New York Sun

cord Oh
CNew York SUM
All Large jewelry-houses keep a de-
tailed description Of the more valuable
articles in their stock, so that, If lost
or stolen before or after purchase, they
may be traced with some chance Of sue
cess. Jewelry left for repairs or re-
setting is also minutely described on its
reception. so that the owner may get back
the same article. and not some suDstl-
tute. Diamonds and other precious stones
are weighed and the exact shade or color
noted The location of any nav IS par
tlcularlv described, and every popularity
is put down. The setting, OF course, is
recorded. often with a drawing OF the
design. The article is numbered - let
tered or otherwise designated, and the
name OF the workman 10 whom ii Is con-
fided is recorded. All workmen are more
or less under the surveillance OF an over
seer. so that, except with MS con-
nivance. no substitution OF precious stones
can be made In fact. the entire shop
would have TO be in the conspiracy 10
insure the success Of such substitution. 1t
would be at once detected, too, unless
stones Of the same size, weight, and color
were substituted, which, Of course, wouli
make the substitution proiitess.
When an article which had passeu
through the hands Of jewellers who Keep
accurate records of their stock and OF
the jewelry left with them for repairs Is
lost or stolen. after leaving their pos
session. the owner can at once get from
them a description with which TO seek
the Jewels discovery. If the article mas
not been changed I'm any way IL VIII be
recognized as soon as seen; put theIe
the rub. Jewelry thieves. as a rule, at
once remove all distinguishing marks on
their ulunder. The gold forming the
setting Of diamonds and other precious
stones Is melted up. and the stones dis-
posed Of with nothing to distinguish them
from other stones Of the same size and
general appearance. Diamonds are now
adays cut I'm the same fashion with the
same number Of facets. and thousands
might be collected which, when removed
from their settings would look exactly
alike, the small differences Of color be
ing imperceptible. They might also all
be within one-sixty-fourth of a carat Of
the same weight. which is practically
weighing the same. Jewellers may keep
records as perfect as they can be made,
but they cannot describe fawless dia-
monds which are not conspicuous FOR
size so accurately that they can be iden-
tilted when removed from their setting.
That, at least. is the opinion of a lead
ing ieweller. who the reporter interviewed
on the subject.
1T is possible, however" he added. "for
the owner Of a diamond to b so familiar
with it's color and with features impOssi-
BILE TO record that he or she might pick
IL out from a number of other stones
when recovered from a pawn-shop or
from thieves Then. II brought 10 Us.
s..HI 10 - Id
and IL weighed within one sixty-fourth
Of a carat Of the weight given in our
record as that OF the diamond we had,
there would be practical certainty that
II was the same stone. But a case like
that is so rare as 10 be scarcely worth
consideration.
"A diamond without a flaw. and OF no
decided color, unless very large, cannot
be traced If stolen. and. as rule, can
not be identified when found OF course,
a very large stone is recognizable almost
as soon as seen: If not. its weight will
at once prove its identity. for stones OF
the size ! speak Of, being comparatively
few. are all so well known that they can
easily be distinguished from each other.
4 thief who steals a big diamond, there
fore, finds It as difficult TO realize on as
a painting by an old master or a famous
modern artist"
The ieweller who talked thus frankly
tod Of an experience he had with a GUS
toner who brought an emerald, valued
at 81 500 10 be reset When she had eX-
planned what she wanted done, she said:
Now. can you guarantee that L will
get this stone and no other back? An
other. even II much more valuable, would
not compensate me for its loss, for |
value this from associations more than
for its intrinsic worth
Il cannot give you such a guarantee.
madam" said the jeweller. IAN l can do
Is to exercise precautions against its loss.
or any substitution, and TO make good
the money value in the event Of one being
made"
"How long will it take to make the
setting"
Two days"
"And 1t will oe in the hands OF work
man all that timer
YES"
What's to prevent his stealing it?"
"IIe IS within sight of the foreman"
"Oh, the foreman-you couldn't watch
the Workman
II could If you would pay me 500
a day. That's the only way TO insure
absolutely the return OF your emerald,
as | cannot DO the work myself. IL the
WI hHidf II WAC tiNfI ~ was sNiNSl WIN
a sudden temptation. he might steal
and secrete ii before its loss was discover
ed. so that even if caught directly. as he
probably would be. you would no, be the
gamer"
"Well. | shan't leave IL, them
"As you please; but may ask what you
do with the emerald at home? What's TO
prevent your servants stealing it,
The emerald owner went away without
answering the question, taking the emc-
raid.
Going back 10 the system OF describing
jewelry. the jeweller who told this story
said that II worked perfectly when the
stolen ornaments were not altered by
the thieves. The description not only
enabled them 10 be traced, but enabled
the owner to prove ownership when they
were recovered. Against dishonest ser
wants. who usually pawn the stolen pro-