The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1906-01-31


given rise to much counterfeiting Of
the more valuable stones, says the Lon
don Tit-Bits.
All are more or less familiar with the
cheap glass limitations where the
worthlessness of the article is so ap-
parent that there is no suggestion of
fraud. Few, however, realize to what
an extent skilled fraud exists in this
trade, more especially on the Conti-
nent, where much of the diamond cut
ting is done. The manufacture of imi-
tation gems of specially prepared glass
is quite an important industry.
1t is now possible to produce in paste
an imitation Of almost every precious
stone which is capable of deceiving the
eyes Of all but the most expert. Not
only is there a superficial resem-
blance but skilfully prepared paste"
stone exhibits the same lustre and
high index of refraction and dispersion
as would diamond of the first water.
The purity of the materials employed
is such that an equal degree of clear
ness and transparency is given to the
imitation as is found in the genuine
stone. Color is initiated also, so that
ruby, emerald, sapphire or other gem
made of glass is practically indistin-
guishable from the real jewel which
may have cost hundreds of pounds.
The material of which these imita-
ton stones are made is known as
"strass." This is made according to
different recipes, but usually includes
red lead, rock crystal, potassium car
Donate, borax and white arsenic. The
| greater the amount of lead used in the
production of the paste" the greater
| will be the brillancy and play of
prismatic colors in the finished stone,
| and at the same time the highest will
be its specific gravity. On the other
hand, the stone loses in hardness
| what it gains in brilliance. An old
time, but still serviceable, rough and
ready test for stone is to see whether
It will scratch or cut window glass,
| which is, as a rule, harder than most
| imitation stones.
1t must not be imagined that these
close limitations of the real diamond
or other stone can be produced cheaply.
| This is far from the case. A large cap
ital is required in the manufacture,
and the high degree of purity necessary
| in all the materials employed necessi-
| tates an amount of care, and incident
ally waste, which is exceedingly eX-
pensive. Moreover, the imitation gems
have to be cut and finished in precisely
| the same manner as the real stones,
| and this is perhaps the most eXpens-
i've part Of the procedure.
Another method of deceiving the un-
wary purchaser of precious stones is to
palm Off on him genuine stones which
have been "faked' in some way to
make them appear more valuable than
they really are. A device commonly
practiced is that of cementing two
stones so that they appear to be one
| large one. At first sight there does
not seem to be any object in such a
proceeding, but diamonds increase very
much in value if they are large. For
| instance, while f10 would be very
fair price for diamond weighing one
| carat, ESQ might be paid for five
carat stone of the same water.
Eastern jewelers. are particularly
skilful in this direction. An Indian
dealer will think nothing Of selling for
large sum a beautiful stone, which
on examination by an expert proves
| to be, perhaps, only skilfully pre-
pared piece of bottle glass. 1t is not,
of course. claimed that there is neces
sarily anything fraudulent in the skill
full preparation Of imitation stones to
resemble more valuable gems. Many
of the most reputable jewelers. deal in
these stones, charging price for
which no one would expect to procure
the genuine article. So long as the
customer is taken into the jewelers.
confidence there is nothing to object
TO in the bargain.
A yellowish red stone called hya-
| cinth and also the blue sapphire, lose
their color on being heated, and may
then be set as diamonds. Similarly,
various stones may be colored in such
manner as to make them resemble
others of higher value.
A favorite method Of preparing prec-,
ious stones so as to make them ap-
| pear more valuable than they really are
is by means of the "doublet." This
may be done at the request of Gus
toner who wishes to make a finer show
than he or she would otherwise be
able to do, or it may be practiced by
an unscrupulous dealer TO deceive the
unwary. 1t is said that a great deal
of this work is done Oh the Continent.
| A doublet consists of an upper part.
which is genuine, secured to lower
part of some less valuable stone or of
| glass. The two parts are cemented to-
gether and ground so as to leave no
trace of the union. The fire of the
genuine portion of the stone is seen
through the imitation, which is itself
made of some paste with high degree
| of brilliancy. If the doublet is secured
by cement the two portions will fall
apart on immersion in hot water.
When the base is composed of glass,