New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-20
THE DIAMOND
An Interesting Book on the
Greatest of Jewels.
TIE DIAMOND. BY ". K Cattenei on ~
Illustrated. Svo, PIP. AZ lne Joi'h Ian
Company.

TIE DIAMOND. BY ,Msy' Z, Cd 1obn Lane
Illustrated. Svo, PIP. Al Inc JOHN i'an0
Company.
This is an interesting and a userui
hook dealing with its subject from the
historic the commercial and technical
noint of view. with sufficient measure
Of neurological information to explain
the methods Of cleaving, cutting ana
polishing The illustrations include views
Of the worlds greatest diamond mines
and nictures of the worlds famous dla-
monds from the Great Mogul. which is
supposed 10 have been found In 1000 or
1850. and which Is the Oldest or them
al, IN the latest and greatest. the Gull
| Imam. There is much romance ana tras-
edv IN the records OF these historic
stones. and also much uncertainty
There is, for instance, the sancy, the
property Of Charles the Bold OF Bur
gundy, about whose later ownership
there are all kinds Of surmises 1t Is
supposed TO have passed through many
roval hands down to Prince Demidoff.
the husband Of Princess Mathilde Bona
parte. and is now tentatively identified
with the gem which Mr.. William Wal
dorf Aston presented to his daughterin-
law on the occasion Of her wedding.
| II was not until the art Of cutting and
the Middle Ages that it began to rise
toward it's place as the stone pre-emi-
nent among Jewels. and
As Europe taught the Orient what IN
dreamt-of beauty was inherent in it's ma
| tive gem. by the art Of cutting and polish
ing so did the new empire of the West
teach Europe how to reach tn. acme of
beauty by adapting proportion OF size and
shape TO the qualities Of reflection and re
fraction. The diamond as We know II is
not yet fifty years Of age.
II is this country that has brought to
perfection the art Of revealing all the
! beauty Of the gem, the author holds AL
though the centre of the cutting industry
still remains in Europe. This country IS
also the worlds greatest diamond mar
ket. but It is the South African syndi-
| cate that has made the stone a staple of
commerce, no longer subject TO extreme
! fluctuations Of price. Since the discov-
cry OF diamonds in South Africa, down to
and including the year 1908. the da-
monds mined there. I'm Brazil and else
where have amounted to 100000 600
carats, yielding the mine owners $3.50
100000. BY the time all these stones
have passed into private ownership, the
! total paid for them. including wastage.
labor, commissions and various profits.
|
adds the author. are conservative figures.
The chapter on the diamond in an
tiauity is most informing. ii is likely
that the gem was valued for it's hard
ness long before it's beauty was recog
n,zed. II is certain that in early days u
was often confused with the white topaz.
sapphire, zircon and rock crystal. The
diamond in the breastplate Of the High
Priest of Israel may well have been a
rock crystal. I'm view Of the small de-
time. and tbe same doubt exists concern
ing the diamonds mentioned In the
sacred writings Of India. Even TODAY
some Of the noted diamonds In royal
treasures are under suspicion. and are
believed To he rock crystal or topaz. the
more so as their owners refuse to sub
NIT them 10 examination by experts"
Weight. color. flaws. all these are ex-
planned at length. the author giving some
very sound advice Ia the ultimate
consumer" so 10 speak There are
| tricks Of the trade: not al ~ them dis
honest, by any means, for sometimes the