The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-05-22
DIAMONDS UP go PER CENT.
General Prosperity the Principal
Reason for n Heavy Increase
in Value.

i'm Value.
From the New York Evening Post
Diamond dealers and men who have
watched the market in precious stones
ara convinced that the safest and at the
same time one of the most profitable in
vestments that can be made to-day is in
diamonds, emeralds, rubies, or other gems
of fair size and good quality. Within the
last two years diamonds have increased
in value between 90 and rs per cent
The war in South Africa has not yet
affected the supply of diamonds to any
very marked extent; although, later on,
the temporary check to the trade may
be felt.
The increased value is largely due, say
the dealers, to the fact that for several
years past the supply of diamonds has
been diminishing. The yearly output of
the mines Is not nearly as large as It
was i'm former years. Another reason for
the higher prices, it is said, is the pros
porous state of the country The number
of persons who can afford to buy dia-
monds has increased largely, and there
is more money seeking investment than
there was three and four years ago. One
dealer explained the situation In this way:
There have been more diamonds and
fine Jewels sold in this country In the
last two years than in any other country
In the history of the world. This is the
age of millionaires. Gems that we could
not sell In 1898 for $1,000 are now eagerly
snapped up for $1,000. Diamonds have
increased in value almost rs per cent since
then, and other jewels are increasing
In value proportionately. The only thing
that could bring down the prices now
would be the discovery OF new mines"
Even the jewel trade is affected by
the omnpotent Trust. Diamonds fresh
from the mines lin the rough" are
nearly all controlled by the De Beer
syndicate Before they reach the Jewel
counter they pass through several hands.
From the mines they go to the syndi-
cate Then they are bought by the cut
tiers. who change the rough lump OF
gayish stone into the scintillating gem
OF commerce. Cutters must have years
Of experience before they can cut profita-
BILE An expert cutter can tell almost at
glance the size of "cutp gem that can
be taken from the rough stone. OF
course, the main object OF a diamond
cutter Is to save as much weight as pos
sible, but even in the most favorable
case 1t Is hard to save more than 40
per cent OF the original weight. From
the cutters the new polished stones are
bought by the dealers and importers
and they in turn sell to the jewellers
American importers buy almost all their
gems from the cutters In Amsterdam
Antwerp. London. and Paris.
Ludwig Nissen. one OF the largest
American importers said to-day that IS
per cent Of the diamonds Of to-day come
from the Kimberley mines In South Az
RIGA. The remainder come from Brazil
India, and Borneo. "Since the discovery
Of the South African mines, in 1861" he
added. "and the opening In a short time
OF 3,1i8 claims. now consolidated into
one large syndicate that controls the
price Of the diamond output OF the world
more diamonds have been found than in
all the preceding centuries. More than
50,000.0W carats, valued In the rough al
upwards of SSOO,OO0O0O. and after cutting
at twice that sum, had been taken from
the mines up TO 1886"
Ia his book. Gems and Jewels, MIR.
Nissen writes. 1T Is not generally known,
perhaps, that the man who attained the
greatest proficiency In bringing out the
beauties Of a diamond, and who. above
all others. has shown ismond-cutting
TO be an art, and not an Industry, was
an American. Henry d. Morse Of Boston
who died only a few years ago. one OF
the most respected and honored men
among the jewellers Of the United States
TO his labors and teaching we owe the
fact that some Of the best diamond
cutters Of the world are Americans. But
this must only be taken TO Indicate that
we have among us artists who can
treat q diamond scientifically and bring
out the fun measure OF It's brilliant char
acter for, as trade. damond-eutting
Is almost monopolized by the Hollanders.
though there u also some cutting done
in Germany and In The Jura Mountains
Of Switzerland
The average white diamond Is worth
now about 500 a carat. but the prices
vary according 10 color and quality. There
are red dismonds. brown diamonds blue