The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1901-11-05
A TALK ON GEMS.
How the Diamond is Cut and What Causes
It's Value.

IL was 4 rare treat that the audience
al the Roscdale School Art League lee
cure mad on Saturday afternoon when
Mr.. James Ryrie. OF Ryrie Bros. lee
'ured on Jewels" Mr.. Ryric combin-
ed enough expert information with his
lecture TO give those present peep
oehind the scenes at the processes that
result IN the glare of the Jewels as they
catch the buyers eye. Naturally, to the
diamond most attention was paid, and
at the very outset Mr.. Ryrie explained
that the term karat" i'm gold applies
10 quality pure gold being "a karlts
me- and IN this form the particle, fell
apart like sand requiring an aiIoy %
baSer metal to hold them together.
In the case of diamonds the term
Karat means weight. and is derived
from an Indian seed which when dry
is absolutely uniform in weight A dia-
mond weighing 100 karatS. therefore.
IS one that is OF the same weight a. 100
OF these Indian seeds. The end OF An
ordinary lead pencil repI esents the SUI =
lace OF stone between one and one.
half karats. The cutting OF diamonds
and their polishing is done witt. dia-
mond dust mixed with oil placed upon
wheel that revolves with grea, rapid
ity, the diamond in process OF pollsh:rg
being fastened 10 steel arm resting
on the wheel. The facets are cut on
mathematical lines to reflect and iefract
the rays OF light, and there arc forty
eight such facets on every full cut bril-
liant.
A rose cut stone is one not srni-
c'cntly deep to admit of regular cutting.
and rather than sacrifice too mucb in.
stead OF being cut to a point under
meath, 1t is fiat, with facets on the top
This variety OF diamond is only about
one-quarter the value of a brilliant of
similar size and weight 1t was sup
posed by many that white was the only
color known to diamonds. As proof 10
the contrary Mr.. Ryrie exhibited to his
audience two black diamonds and one
OF coffee color, remarking that they
possessed great value on account of their
rarity.
MIR. Ryrie showed fac SMILES in size
and shape of some of the chief crown
Jewels. the most notable being the great
British diamond. of which he said.
Our knowledge OF the Kohinoor. the
Indian for Mountain OF Light. now
the property of our queen. dates bacl;
to the treasury OF Delhi in 1870 After
vcisSitudes it fell into the hands Of
the British so, Iiery at the capture Of
Lahore. and was by them presented 10
her majesty on July 3. 1880 1t was
exhibited at the exposition in 1881. and
being .omewhat imperfect a consulta
ton OF leading scientists. Sir David
Brewster among them. thought il Nigh.
De unsafe to attempt to recut it. After
considerable discussion, however. it was
Entrusted 10 Mr. Coster. of Amster-
dam, by whom is was very greatly i'm
proved, retaining nearly the origina!
surface size. although decreasing it yer,
much in weight, being reduced from
1876 TO 100 karats"
Mr.. Ryrie dealt with colored stones
IN an equally interesting manner. The
emerald, he said. was found in a sort
OF slate stratum in South Africa. in the
Ural mountains and in Egypt. The
ruby and the sapphire were found in
India and Burmah The beautiful opal
was native of Mexico. but tue pest spe-
clmens were from Australia. The tur
quoise was found in Persia. Egypt and
also in some portions of the United
States. One OF the characteristics of
this stone is that it changes color with
out any apparent cause.-Toronto
(Ont.) Globe.