The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-12-11
TIE HAsKIN LE TIER
AMERICAN DIAMONDS.
81 Frederick j. Haslin.

Because Of the war impoyerishment
OF Europe, America Is now the only
diamond mart in the world worthy
lof consideration commercially. The
American demand includes both the
United States and the countries OF
South America. It Is estimated that
the holiday trade of this country alone
Will utilize fully $50, 900: 900 worth 81
diamonds. 1t will be supplied with
out difficulty because the present
stock Is believed to be snficient to
meet ordinary trade demands for
nearly year, and the prices will not
Ebe materially increased. But the
diamond trade. of the world is now
practically suspended, so no predic-
tons can be made about the next
supply. Even If trade activities are
resumed within a few months the
abnormal insurance upon imported
gems will tend materially to increase
their price.
Antwerp has long been recognized
as the worlds chief diamond mart,
although Amsterdam ana London have
also a considerable share In the
preparation Of the gems. The bulk
of the diamonds from the South Az
rican fields are shipped directly to
Antwerp for cutting and polishing.
During the first half OF this year the
Antwerp Diamond Syndicate pur-
chased 760,500 carats Of diamonds
for $S,S50,000 These were being pre-
pared for market at the very time of
the German invasion OF Belgium. 1t
Is claimed that the siege Of Antwerp
affected the diamond cutters more
than any other industry. Dealers
who had had millions of dollars worth
of stones in their possession are now
reduced to penury. Their shops were
destroyed and their stones scattered
beyond any possibility OF recovery.
For the present no diamonds can be
procured from Antwerp. A few of
the cutters are trying to transfer
their industry to Amsterdam and
other places, but their instruments
have been lost, and certain trade
union requirements exist which ma
terially hinder their immediate re-
sumption Of trade in a new field.
The annual diamond imports OF the
United States approximate $50, ZOO, 900.
These include uncut and imperfect
stones used for diamond drills and
other industrial purposes as well as
for jewels. About two-thirds Of the
|importations are polished. The bal
ance. including those used for indus
trial purposes, are polished and cut
in this country. A few New York
jewelers. have been buying diamonds
in the rough for several years and
polishing them In their own work
rooms. Since the Antwerp troubles,
consideration is being given to in
creasing the diamond cutting trade in
the United States where the demand
for the gems is the strongest. A num-
Der Of Antwerp workmen Of recog-
nized skill have been invited to accept
positions here. The fact that the
present tariff upon uncut stones is
ten per cent less than that upon the
polished gems will also give some
announcement to the industry.
For at least ten years ninety per
cent of the best, pure, first water
diamonds have come to America. The
European trade has commended itself
chiefly with an inferior quality of
gems, especially those which had
flaws or were of imperfect coloring
or had been injured in the cutting.
The. diamonds Of unusual size have
always gone to the Oriental trade. 1t
is only the semi-civilized ruler who
has any great longing to possess
diamonds of eight carats or more to
emblazon his turban.
Tho aia o,%tf,,.. x...1.
the most difficult to acquire. For
centuries it has been almost entirely
in the hands of the Hebrew race. the
closest surveillance is kept on every
worker in diamond cutting estab-
lishment. Every man is carefully
searched before leaving each day in
order to prevent the possibility OF
his secreting even chip Of the prec-
ious material from his person. In
some establishments, the cutters are
not permitted even to wear their own
shoes into the cutting room, but are
provided with smooth leather slippers
at the door because even the dust
from diamond cutting Is valuable
enough to be preserved
From the time of earliest civiliza-
ton diamonds have stood as symbol
for the highest known value. They
never fluctuate in value and are not
likely to do SO, because the demand is
always in excess of the supply. EN-
pires have fallen, countless lives have
been lost and kings overthrown for
the possession of single jewel,
which, to the uninitiated, seems al
most like bit of cut glass. The
great Koh-i-noor diamond, now owned
Ly the British crown, was in the pos
session of the family Of the Raiah of
Malwa fully thousand years, ago.
The Sultan Alaedin acquired 1t when
he defeated the Rajah Of Malwa in
1904 For several centuries it was
rigidly guarded by his descendants.
Plots and intrigues. having for their
object the possession of THE Noun
tain of Light, as the. diamond was
called, were numerous. One man
attached himself as a body slave az