The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-09-03
IMITATION JEWELS.
VENEERED DIAMONDS AND GEMS OF
FINE cOLoREO GLASS.

Some of the Modern Tricks of the
Trade-Fine Gold Settings Used For
Bogus stOnes-The Halo Around a
Genuine Pearl.
Although the imitation of jewels has
been practiced for a century or more
there are comparatively new develop
ments in the industry every few years.
and the business has of late attained
enormous proportions. The majority of
these stones are made abroad, and hence
they are imported. But while they are
exceedingly cheap and the duty Is low
the attempt is occasionally made to SNUG
gle them into the country, and seizure
results. Again, the imitation Is some
times SO good that even the customs Off
GERS are puzzled for a time. However, it
is always possible for an expert to tell
the difference If he has sufficient eppor-
tunity to apply the proper tests
limitations of the diamond, topaz, emer-
aid, amethyst and turquoise are usually
made of paste OF strass, which is nothing
more than a particularly fine grade of
glass, to which, If the stone Is colored,
the proper hue has been impaired by the
addition to some mineral substance.
There is at least one European house,
though, which processes to add carbon to
its diamond composition, thus securing
greater hardness than would otherwise
be possible.
In London still another plan is pursued
to improve the paste diamond. Genuine
diamond dust, produced by the cutting
Of Jewels, is treated with acid, reduced
to a plastic state and then rolled out in
exceedingly thin sheets. This veneer
is cut into the proper shape and cement
ed on the faces of the strass. Glass dia-
monds can be bought for a few cents
when unset, but a veneered diamond is
worth nearly 81. A high degree Of skill
is required in it's preparation.
There are several methods of distin-
gushing between true diamond and
paste Hydrofuoric acid will eat glass,
but will not affect the genuine stone. A
file makes no impression on the latter
either. Finally a real diamond contin-
ues to glitter when immersed in water.
Some artificial rubies are Of pastel 9TH
ers have the same composition as the
genuine stone, which consists of corun-
dunn. The latter variety Of imitation
ruby has the proper hardness and spe-
BEdNLlys duu Lu0 GOlOE 10 AQuiIACeS'
1t can be distinguished from the true
ruby only by powerful magnifying
glass. Singuarly enough, the genuine
article is identified by it's defects. There
are natural flaws in 1t not found in the
imitation, although the imitation also
possesses other characteristics minute
bubbles, for instance) which are readily
recognized. On some stones, like the
topaz and emerald, it is not wise to use
a file. They are not hard enough to re-
sist 1t. The magnifying glass is the sur
est means of ascertainlng the character
Of these jewels.
Owing no doubt to the fact that pearls
are often worn in strings instead of sim
gly or in pairs, like diamonds, the busi-
ness of manufacturing limitations of them
is far more extensive than any kindred
branch of the industry, except perhaps
the making of bogus turquoises and en-
eralds and rubies for belt buckles And
inasmuch as most of these imitation
pearls are exceedingly cheap it is posi-
Bile for anybody to buy them. Thus one
may get card bearing dozen stickpins
with imitation pearl heads for from 10
to IS cents. If the stones were genuine,
they would be worth from $500 to $500.
There are several kinds of imitation
pearls. One is a glass bead filed with
composition. The glass is often not over
sixty-fourth of an inch thick. There
are several different compositions used.
One looks very much like paraffn. A
bead filed with that material would
crush easily. In other globular pearls,
pierced for stringing, a harder substance
is employed. There is an imported imita-
ton pearl whose shell Is said to be made
of fshskin and whose filing Is com
pound In which there is ground mother of
pearl, the lustrous lining of the oyster
shell, wherein the real pearl Is produced.
This sort of Jewel costs a dollar or two,
and a string of 60 would sell for $3.50.
Real pearls of the same size and beauty
would bring fully a hundred times that
price.
Although the manufacture of imitation
pearls was long confined to Europe, II Is
now conducted In this country also. A
New York house, the first to engage in
the business. introduced novelty to the
trade q few years ago. 1t made solid
pearls In addition to the filed ones. The
composition employed is as hard as rock.
1t is almost impossible to break these
jewels. and their luster, color and ingen-
ious irregularity OF form will deceive any
one who does not use magnifying glass
on them. The head Of this house tells
many amusing stories about the mistakes
made by expert jewelers. and pawnbro-
kers when these stones hrst made their
appearance. OF course it Is not easy to
fool an experienced person; still the ex-
pert must use noWeEful lens IN order to