Evening star., 1902-03-20
WHAT A "DOUBLET. IS.
An Upper Layer Of Real Stone and
Under Laver of Rock CRYSTAL.

"What Is a 'doublet' as regards a pre-
cious stone. and are jewellers often de-
ceived by doublets?" replied an expert in
gems to Star mans question.
We'll. jewelers. are not so often deceived
by doublets as are the public, though occa-
sionally men in the trade have been taken
In until they could apply the proper tests,
and this is especially true as to ruby doub-
lets. These so-called doublets are a recog-
nized article in the jewelers. trade so no
deception Is usually attempted. When they
fall into the hands Of the INSCRIPTIONS
they are often passed off on the initiated
and unsuspecting as the real thing. but the
purchasers are undeceived, to their sorrow
and loss, when they attempt to pawn or to
sell to dealers the stones in question.
"A doublet Is composed Of an upper layer
or the real stone. that Is, the upper facets,
or the outer surface of the stone down to
where the claws of the setting meet the
edge. The body, or under portion, Of the
stone Is composed of colored rock crystal
of the clearest and best quality. The sepa-
rate portions are Joined by invisible cement
made expressly for the purpose. The de-
ception Is often very complete. and fire.
quently entirely so to the purchaser.
All of the co1ored gems are initiated by
the dOublet, especially the ruby amethyst,
emerald. sapphire, turquois, topaz. garnet,
etc. Chips and layers from the real gems,
and those whose formation is thin and un-
suitable for individual setting, are selected
for the faces Of the doublets, and cut and
polished accordingly. BY processes known
only to the trade 1t is not a very difficult
ma tier to experty color the crystal to ex-
aetly match the color Of the original stone.
When these doublets are handsomely
mounted In gold setting they appear to ad-
vantage when shown by themselves, and
to the eye Of the average person, compare
favorably with the real gem. In articles of
jewelry Of comparatively low value these
doublets are exclusively employed as were
the real gems used. the price would be
prohibitory except to the very rich
The doublet, you understand while an
imitation stone, Is not the imitation stone
sold In the cheap jewelry Of the day. These
paste and colored stones are merely col
ored glass or colored crystal, and the
mountings are Of gilt or brass. and this
class OF JeWelry Is sold remarkably cheap.
The doublet Is the closest approach to the
real gem that men have yet devised, and,
being a combination Of the real and the
Imitation. has fixed value depending upon
the character Of the gem.
Sharpers will take real diamonds of in
ferior quality, set them with doublets of
colored gems, and sell them in the rural
districts, and at county and state fairs as
gems Of the finest quality, often making
large profits. People living in these COM
mun1tfes do not have the opportunity of
viewing real gems as do their city cousins
and are readily taken in especially where
the stones re set in real gold The sharper
applied the acid test to the gold mounting,
or mas 1t done In the store Of the village
1eWeier. and the victims, supposing that ff
the settings are of real gold the gems
must be the real things, too. readily nav
three times the actual value of the articles.
supposing that they were being purcha sed
under the market price"