Casco Bay breeze. [volume] (South Harpswell, Me.) 1901-1917, 1905-06-22
BELIEVE TIFFANY HUNT HOPE
LESS.
ceaiers Point out That No Big Stones
Recently Stolen Have Reappeared.

ceaiers Point out That No BIG Stones
Recently Stolen Have Reappeared.
Diamond brokers, importers, lapi-
daries and jewellers in their trade
centre, Maiden lane. continue to dis
cuss the extraordinary features of the
great Tiffany diamond robbery. A
new element entered into their dis
cussions yesterday-almost absolute
certainty in their minds that the gems
Will never be recovered by the own
ers.
Ii was pointed out that no important
diamonds which have been stolen by
professional diamond thieves within
the last 'fiaif dozen years have been
recovered by the owners, the reason
being that band Of expert diamond
cutters cut up the stones and change
their weights and appearance. so that
wEen they are offered for sale they
are no longer recognizable.
Tinany & Co.'S reluctance to give
out information about the robbery is
IN line with the wellknown policy of
tnat hrm. 1t was said. and the story
became known only in spite of the NJ
most enorts OF that concern, which al
ways pockets its losses from thefts
IN lis shops, which are very infre-
quent. II is known that no complaint
was made to the police until the story
Fad come out, and that the Pinker-
tons. who are usually employed in del
icate Investigations of this sort by
jewellers. were not called in, in spite
OF the erroneous report to the con
trary.
1t Is almost certain" said a lead.
ing iapidary, that Tiffany's will never
see the stolen gems again. The gen.
eral public Is ignorant OF the compare
tive ease with which an expert may
cnange the appearance Of a diamond.
IL is known that for several years
band OF expert diamond cutters has
been operating here and abroad.
am inclined to think that their den Is
somewhere on the other side.
The diamond cutting business Is
a close corporation. All Of the opera
tives in this country are imported
from one place. They all know one
another and get big wages. While
the vast majority Of these men are
honest, there are several scalawags
among them. and II is understood that
taese men are engaged In Disgusting
diamonds.
When a valuable stone has been
secured by substitution. or In any man.
ner. II Is passed to the dishonest lapi-
daries. who proceed to cut the big
stones up into smaller ones and to re-
shape the smaller ones. Ordinary un-
set stones OF small size are absolutely
unidentifable and are as negotiable.
as bullion. While the diamond Is the
hardest substance In the world. ~ is
split with remarkable ease.
The thief embeds the diamond 20
be split In a piece OF hard wax. Places
razor blade carefully on the line
Of cleavage. hits the steel a tap Ri
a piece OF wood, and the diamond
splits like piece OF Ice. TITS IL called
'cleaving.
Next, two diamonds are rubbed. to
gether by the cutter. who holds one
In each hand. Che edges being ground
away until the rough shape desired
Is attained. Then the poIisher comes
In. He polishes the stone on the
wheel and brings the facets TO the
brilliant polish Of commerce.
so you see that there IL little
chance Of recognizing the Tiffany die.
Donds II they get into the hands of
these gentlemen. The thieves have
but to grind away the longer end of
the pearshape1 diamonds to produce
regulation round diamonds, which may
be safely sold."-New York Herald.