Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-07-08
vENEERED DIAMONDS.

How the Most Deceptive OF Artificial
Gems Are Made.
From the London Tft-Bits
The demand for jewelry has of late years
increased to such an extent that It has
been found necessary to cope with it by
artificial means. Quite recently. NJ. Mois-
son. French scientist, has discovered how
to make real diamonds out of sugar with
the aid OF electricity. and other savants
have been equally successful with carbon
but the stones are small. and do not meet
the requirements Of the million. which pre-
fers large jewels at low price
Artificial diamonds have been made for
more than hundred years. the process be-
ing nrst discovered by a German named
Strass: and the peculiar kind OF glass that
bears his name exactly resembles the dia-
mond when cut. Strass is nothing more
snan rock crystal. to which -borax ar
senic. potash and other chemicals have
been added The ingredients when thor
oughly pulvertzed and sifted are placed In
crucibie and subjected to enormous heat
IN a furnace; The melting occupies from
twenty to thirty-nve hours, and skill is
needed to see that the proper temperature
Is maintained or the strass comes ont
cloudy and utterly useless.
AZ the expiration Of that time the cruci-
Die Is removed and placed in another cham
ber where the heated atmosphere is per-
mftted to gradually cool and solidify the
mass. which is then ready to be cut as re-
qufred. Exactly the same process is fol-
lowed in making emeraIds, except that
large proportions Of fine white sand and
green oxide Of chrome are melted into the
strass. Opals are by far the most DIM
cult stones to initiate; indeed, 1t is only
within the last decade that they have been
successfully copied with the aid of cleo
tricity and solution OF silicates.
so far the work has been practically
easy. but It now becomes difficult In the
extereme and only the most skillful work.
men are engaged in the department
through which the strass next passes
The diamonds" that are sold for few
pence each are merely pieces Of white
strass cut by machinery, and a yellow
tint can be detected in them. But the
more costly gems. though made of the
same material. are subjected to a delicate
process known as "facing-up."
Every one is aware that when real dia-
monds are cut a quantity Of fine dust is
given of which is apparently valueless.
the tables and sell them to the makers Of
artificial gems at IA per pound who purify
them with acid that destroys everything
but the pure diamond dust This is mixed
with another acid and placed under enor-
nous pressure. which results in sheets Of
diamond dust as thin as paper being given
Off.
The facets Of the sham stone are then
covered with transparent cement and a
layer Of diamond paper laid upon them
When dry, the false Jewels. veneered with
tuC real OuSL AT0 SO SlnudF TO the genuine
stones that they are often set in pure gold
for no one but an expert can detect the
difference, and then only with the aid of a
powerful magnifying glass. This Is. OF
course. the most expensive artificial gem
made, inasmuch as one that has been prop
eriy veneered cannot be purchased for
less than los
Thus 1t will be seen that no small amount
OF skill Is required to make imitation
stones. and the workmen In the cutting,
polishing and facing-up departments can
command high wages. In the first-named,
II los. to TO per week is the average sal
airy, while those who undertake the deli
cate task of veneerfng are by no means
too highly remunerated at the rate of from
Is to f6 per week. No metal work is done
at the factories where these stones are
made. the setting being left to other firms
VINO receive the gems in cases holding
from 100 to 800 each. Large quantities are
used Tor theatrical purposes; the best are
set In gold rings and brooches, but the ma
1ority find their way into the collections of
Jewels owned by lasses among the