The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-03-20
EASY TESTS OF DIAMONDS.
There Are Several Simple Ways of
Telling the Genuine from the
Sham Stones.

Anyone can tell genuine diamond
or precious stone even from a very
clever imitation. There are a few
household tests which are practically
fnfallible. The diamond expert, after
long experience with gems, can detect
an imitation, as a rule, at a glance.
The layman in such matters, with a
few simple tests, takes more time to
solve such problems, but his Judgment
in the end is scarcely less accurate,
says the London Express.
An imitation diamond is never so
brilliant as genuine stone. If your
eye is not experienced enough to de-
tect the difference very simple test
is to place the stone under water. The
imitation stone is practically extin-
pushed while the genuine diamond
sparkles even under water and is dis
tinctly visible. When possible place
genuine stone beside the possible
imitation under water, and the con-
trast will be apparent to the least eX-
perienced eyes.
The glass-cutting test is, of course,
more or less familiar. 1t is probably
the most common. False diamonds
are usually cut more regularly than
the genuine stones. In cutting dia-
mond the material is saved as far as
possible. In any imitation the ma
terial is itself worthless, and no effort
is made to suit the size or angle of the
facets to the form of the stone. Itcan
be put down as a safe rule that when
stone is cut with great evenness and
regularity it is, 10 say the least, very
suspicious sign.
Another very simple and effective
test is to place drop of water on the
stone and carefully observe the result.
The stone should first be carefully
cleaned. On an imitation diamond the
drop, however small, will deliquesce.
The drop will, however, retain it's orig
inal shape on true stone. To make
the test quite sure use a magnifiying
glass when watching the action of the
drop.
Still another test of this nature is
to pass the stone over piece of alum
inium. Both the metal and the stone
should be absolutely free from any
traces of grease. The metal will. give
off some of its color to an imitation
stone, while the genuine diamond will
remain perfectly clear and unaffected.
Among jewelers. the final test is to APP
ply a drop of fiuohydric acid to the
stone under suspicion. The acid will
eat into any false diamond and frost
it, while the genuine stones will not
be damaged in the slightest degree.
Perhaps the simplest of all, however,
is to examine an ink spot on sheet
of white paper through diamond, by
holding the upper surface against the
eye. If the stone be counterfeit the
black spot will appear greatly multi
piled, or at least doubled. The outline
will, moreover, appear blurred and in
distinct. By using a magnifying glass
the test can readily be made absolute,
The optical test is the best in exam
lining rubies and emeralds. 1t is COM
monty supposed that such stones can
be best tested by rubbing them with
file, that the genuine stones resist the
steel, while the limitations only will
The best plan is to examine them close
ly with a microscope of about 100 di-
ameters. The genuine stones have
number of minute flaws, whereas the
limitations are likely to be much more
nearly perfect in texture.