Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-04-18
How to Judge Diamonds
Literary pLgest.

FTNHE finest diamonds, we arc told BY writer 70
Il the Scientific American Supplement, are 70 DO
found only in the treasure vaults Of princes
Occasionally however. the plain citizen may have
both the desire and the to purchase stone OF
n lower class, and the writer above quoted condo
scends TO throw out few hints to al such. Faults
that affect diamonds, IN common with other precious
stones Of three kinds we are toc-the inclusion
Of foreign minerals, gas moisture-pores and the
small assures called Feathers" Incusons In the
diamond nro usually coal or graphite. When visible
10 the naked eye they are called SAND" but when
microscopic they termed dust and sometimes
form 'clouds' that impair ths transparency and tho
color. When they appear IN streaM or silky layers
they AFRO called flags" Gas or moisture pores also
cause cloudlng or flags" but they may have the
further effect Of giving to tho interior Or the stone
porous appearance.
Tho writer says: I'm purchasing diamonds one
should always mako ef the microscope, not the
magnlfyng glass OF the jeweler but one Of a power
Of twenty. for then can find faults IN in
cusons polishing, etc, even With stones adyertlsoo
rs rnlcroscoplcally pure.
"As Is self.eyident. the value Of a diamond de-
ponds upon liz weight The determination Of weight
IL difficult when II IN IN lts setting Prof August
Hosiwnl has made NJ from his own measurements
table " sizes for small stones.
THE second factor 10 value Ia quality and In tho
result Of purity OF color. Diamonds ~ commercial
products are divided into several grades in point OF
quality and these grades are generally denominated
first second and third water.
"a diamond Of the first water must entirely
coorieAs and transparent. without any inclusion "
flaw; II IN OF the second water n II n eolorless with
small but unnporant faults. n II without faults
but with traces of color and third water II II II
cooreaB but with larger faults " II In distinctly
coored The correct valuation is therefore very dr.
ficult and often subject 20 the jewelers. judgment
For this reason Prof Roswnl gives 10 the laynan
tho following hints: stones Of tho first water arc
carried only by the highest class jewelers. The req't'
sits II perfect lack Of color, ofwbat ~ highly
prizcda tlnge Of blue IN general beautifully colorod
diamonds command fabulous prices and arc 10 BIO
found only in the treasure vaults OF princes.
"stones Of the second water numerous. They
supposed be microscoplcally pure but almost
always show ncusons, There oftentmes
Of yellow color In this grade and because this
can be seen best In sunlight one should never buy
diamonds ut night for the prevailing lights cause
stones that noticeably yellowish 10 appear
clear Most Of the stones Of the ordinary market
OF the third quality and the dealers try cover up
their faults by combining them into groups for bor-
der-soncH or for tho popular pendants, diamond
hearts, marquiae rings, etc. While they may be color
less they are often so full Of flhwe that ihey would
be ranked aB bort, or diamonds good only for me
chanicai purposes. II there had not been such de.
mand for the gems 10 increase the price.
AN effort TO stsndardize the value Of diamonds
made thirty years ago. and for OF the df
ferent waters to three oaras the proportions
sefirst water. 1907 second water 49, and third water
~. Today thanks 10 the demand for 1ewels BY
America, the first water has risen to three
times that ratio. The European prices for one.
carat stone from 500 TO 800 1l0 IN 1873 and $3.50
and 800 for inferior stones Trimming stones that
are quite smai-undcr one-elghh carst--bring from
their commences perhaps 400 carat In this coun-
try tho prices somewhat higher, diamonds OF the
first water going up 10 nearly $500 carat In this
country also for year or more the Weighing has
boon by ihundredths,' one hundred hundredths being
lnrI N