Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1913-04-20
PAINTING THE DIAMOND
(From Pearson's Weekly)

(From Pearson's Weekly.)
Of all precious stones the most diff
cult to successfully counterfeit is the
diamond, and the easiest the sapphire
No paste has ever been made which
will successfully counterfeit the dia-
mond, at least by daylight. At night
the imitation may escape detection, es-
pecially by candle light, but in day
| light paste advertises itself and nc
jeweler. even of the shady order, would
dream of palming off a sham diamond
/ as a real one.
But pray do not imagine that if you
knowing nothing about diamonds, SCI
out to buy diamond stud or ring you
may not be swindled.
Real diamonds vary vastly in wa
ter" and value. A stone as big as a
pea may be worth only very few
pounds if it is off color" The perfect
diamond must be colorless. There are
plenty of yellowish, diamonds, almost
worthless in the eyes of experts, that
can be faxed.
Not long ago Hatton Garden dia-
mond merchant sued man for selling
him a yellow stone which had been
painted" to give it the blush appear
ance of good brilliant 1t was not un-
til he had taken it from it's setting and
washed it in hot water that he discov-
cred the sWindle.
Another diamond swindle is to take
two cut diamonds and cement them to-
gether with invisible cement. AS the
value of large stone is proportion
ately greater than that of two smaller
ones of the same quality, the advant-
age to the seller is obvious.
Worse still is the "doublet" diamond
consisting of a surface of real diamond
cemented to lower portion of some
cheap stone such as colorless topaz or
even glass.
The hyacinth, commonly known as
the 'jargoon," is often found in Colo
less crystals These carefully cut, Of
fer.sUch a startling resemblance to the
diamond as would deceive any but an
expert.
Dealers in stones have processes for
testing them so thoroughly that
swindling is impossible They view
them in polarized light, or immense
them in strongly refracting liquids
They can also ascertain their hardness
and their specific gravity.
The man in the street can do none
of these things and if he is purchasing
a ecious stone of any value he should
take two precautions. He should never
buy by artificial light and he should
insist upon seeing the stone unmount-
ed
The reason is this: BY backing a set
stone with mount of moor" of gold
slver or enamel, or various pigments
its defects may be completely conceal
ed and its color marvelously improved
Moor" is black pigment compos-
ed OF burnt ivory and mastic.
Even when the setting is not clos
ed one, as for instance in the case OF
a claw ring, similar swindle is work
ed by lighting" the stone from tbs
sides, instead Of from the bottom.
Emeralds of poor color are some
times faxed" in this fashion. Even a
very poor and inferior stone when
we'll set in heavy gold and carefully
lighted has a surprisingly good APP
pearance and would deceive anyone
but an expert.
Pearls like diamonds, sometimes
have yellowish hue which spoils
their value They are therefore often
shown to the customer spread upon
blue silk, which tends to counterfeit
the yellowness, and on the other hand
unmounted turquoise are shown upon
an orange yellow background thus in