The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1901-07-20
SIMPLE MEANS OF DETECTING
SPURIOUS STONES.

Only a Genuine Diamond Will Glitter
Under Water-FIourhydric Acid is tho
Surest Medium With Diamonds Opti'
cal Test Best For Rubiess
Genuine diamonds are generally recog-
nlzed at first glance by the jeweler, with
the naked eye, and surely with the aid Of
the magnifying glass. An imitation
never exhibits as vivid a refraction; be-
sides it is usually colored on the under
side and fohated, which is supposed to
equallze the deficiency The greater re-
fraction is also perceptible when the gen.
ulne diamond is placed under water to-
gether with the imitation. The latter is
extinguished to invisibility, while the
genuine stone sparkles even under water
and is distinctly visible. If the diamond
be passed over piece of window glass,
1t will penetrate without use of force
and the glass may be broken by very
slight pressure. A false stone scratches
the glass but specifically.
If drop of water be placed by means
of a needle on the stone to be tested
which has previously been thoroughly
cleaned, the drop will deliquesce on an
imitation, while it retains its drop-shape
on true diamond. A strip of alumni
um may be passed over a diamond
(from which all grease has been remov-
ed) without it acquiring even a trace of
it; on limitations, however, the metal will
give off some of its color.
A sure mdium is also fourhydric acid, |
which is kept in caoutchouc bottles, since
it eats into glass and silicious COM
pounds, including false diamonds, and |
frosts them, while the genuine diamond |
issues unscathed from the test, retaining
its Stlll briliancy. If one makes an ink
spot on white paper and views it through
the stone, a counterfeit can be recognized
by the fact that the spot appears multi
piled (double) and with indistinct out
lines. If necessary, a magnifying glass
may be called into requsition. If the
stone to be tested is slowly drawn over
piece of red or white cloth, while look
ing at it through the magnifying glass,
the colors will not be visible, if the stone
be genuine
A spurious diamond is usually cut
much more regularly than genuine one,
for in the latter certain limit is reserv-
ed, so as to spare the valuable material
as far as possible, while in the worthless
material of the imitation there is nothing
to be saved. Therefore, a striking regu-
larity of the cut is suspicious sign.
Very we'll known is the test for hard
ness: if the stone resists strong attacks,
it is certain to be genuine; if it can be
ruined with a steel file, the damage is in
significant, as only an imitation has been.
destroyed. This test, however, does not
hold good in the case of other stones,
1t is true, ruby which can be affected
by steel file or by quartz is suspicious
but the emerald is scarcely harder than
quartz and such test with a topaz is
liable to injure valuable stone.
For examining rubies and emeralds the
optical test is best. A glass magnifying
about 100 diameters sufices. Every ex-
pert knows that almost all precious
stones have little flaws. Nearly every
ruby and all en1eraIdS nave rna1ry t1rfuvt5
which are so characteristic that the
genuineness of the stone is readily es-
tablished. Such test is very necessary
with rubies, because limitations are quite
deceiving; their color being absolutely
durable and often much finer than that
Of the genuine, although it may be stated
that somewhat yellowish tint is al
ways suspicious.
The only reliable way in which GENT
me rubies can be told from limitations is
BY the minute air bubbles of the latter,
which become clearly visible under the ,
nagnifying glass. These are not to be
ound in the natural gem; on the other .
land, the limitations lack certain defects
of genuine rubies-certain
'acuums, whose outlines are much more
ndistinct than those of the air bubbles ,
If the limitations.
Emeralds are always afflicted with
characteristic defects, which, however,
'rove their genuineness, such as inclos
Tres of liquids as we'll as Enclosures Of
'eculiar dendritic, i. E., treelike-shape J
'apphires likewise show peculiar netlike
ormations.-Je7ucllerS' Cwcular-Week-