St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1901-03-23
A TALK ON GEMS.
How the Diamond Is Cut and What Makes
It's Value.

/ at the Rosedale School Art league
lecture had on a recent afternoon
when Mr.. James Ryrie, Of Ryrie
Bros, leetured on Jewels says the
Toronto 5(Ont,) Globe Mr.. Ryrie
combined enough expert information
with his lecture to give those pres
ent a peep behind the scenes at the
processes that result in the blare 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' in gold applies to quail
ity, pure gold being q karats fine,
and in this form the particles fall
apart like sand, requiring an alloy Of
baser metal to hold them together.
In the case of diamonds the term
'karato means weight, and is de-
rived from an Indian seed which
when dry is absolutely uniform in
weight. A diamond weighing 100
karats, therefore, is one that is Of the
same weight as 100 Of these Indian
seeds. The end Of an ordinary lead
pencil represents the surface Of a
stone between one and one-half kar-
ats. The cutting Of diamonds and
their polishing is done with diamond
dust mixed with oil placed upon a
| wheel that revolves with great rapid
ity, the diamond IN process Of polish
ing being fastened to a steel arm rest
ing on the wheel. The facets are cut
on mathematical lines to reflect and
refract the rays Of light, and there are
5S such facets on every full cut bril-
liant.
A rose cut stone is one not suf1fii-
cicntly deep to admit of regular cut
ting. and rather than sacrifice too
much, instead Of being cut to a point
underneath, it 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 supposed BY many that white
was the only color known to dia-
lnonds. As proof to the contrary Mr..
Ryrie exhibited to his audience two
black diamonds and,one of coffee col
Or. resnarking that they possessed
great value on account Of their rarity.
Mr.. Ryrie showed facsimiles in
size and shape of some Of the chief
crown jewels, the most notable being
the great British diamond, Of which
he zald: Our knowledge Of the Ko-
n.noor,. the Indian for Mountain Of
Light. dates back to the treasury in
Delhi in 1926. After .yicissitudes it
fell into the hands of the British sol
diery at the capture of Lahore, and
was by them presented to hermaiesty
cn July 5, 1850. 1t was exhibited at
the exposition Of 1851, and being
somewhat imperfect a consultation Of
leading scientists, Sir David Brewster
among them, thought il might be un-
safe to attempt to reeut il. After
considerable discussion, however, II
was intrusted to "a Mr.. Goster, Of AM
.sterdam, by whom it was very great.
y improved, retaining nearly the
original surface size, although de-
ereasing it very much ii weight, be-.
ing reduced from 1S6 to JOG karats.o
Mr.. Ryrie dealt with colored stones
in an equally interesting manner.
The emerald, lie said, was found in
sort Of slate stratum in South Amer
lea, in the Ural mountains and IN
Egypt. The ruby and the sapphire
were found in India and Burmah.
The beautiful opal was native to
Mexico, but the best specimens we're
from Australia. The turquoise 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 without
any apparent cause.