The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1919-10-17


distinctly metallic lustre. The pro-
duction of diamonds in this grade
has steadily fallen for several years,
and as there is no probability of
their ever becoming plentiful they
are highly esteemed as investments
the world over.
9rd.-PERFECTION OF MATER
IAL. Persons outside the trade use
the word perfect" to designate a
diamond that has no imperfections
in its material. 1t may lack in the
more important features of brillian-
cy and color and still be the gem of
their mistaken desires.
1t should be remembered that
many diamonds while absolutely per-
feet as to their material, are still
very far from being desirable, and for
that reason, it is always inadvisable
to permit mere sentiment to enter
largely into consideration. Many a
cause it's diamond was fiawless, un-
der the mistaken sense that the
greatest perfection was being OBJ
tanned. The qualities that make
diamond valuable and worthy, are
not its absolute purity of material,
but its power to act instantly in re-
response to light and seem living
thing. The gem that fascinates, is
the gem whose resplendent radiance
attracts-yes, compels and holds the
eye, wherever and whenever it moves
in light.
AS purely technical fact, there
is but one perfect diamond in the
world, and if the world will decide
which particular diamond it is, will,
with my instruments of precision
and powerful glasses, demonstrate
why the others cannot be perfect sim
ply because they vary in some way
from the perfect one. There are
no two diamonds precisely alike
hence, if one is perfect, all the others
must in varying degrees, perhaps
negligible ones, be lacking when
faced by the cold precision of exact
science.
A diamond may be said to be COM
mercially perfect if it has fine bril-
liancy and color and if it has no blem-
that interferes with the play of light
and color through the facets. If bril-
liancy and color are all that could
be desired, what matters if an inf
Intestinal suspicion of blemish turks
in diamonds alluring depths and
is only discoverable to trained eye
at powerful glass? But imperfec-
lions that are plain to the casual
locker, and which take the form of
unsightly sprays, feathers or clusters
of carbon, cracks, assures, bubbles,
clouds, seeming twists in the grain
OF the stone, ETC., are more or less
serious and, of course, affect the value
and price accordingly. Often how
ever, a diamond may have pro-
nounced imperfoction-one that is
really serious and objectionable-bu
with so fine a degree of brilliancy
and such beautiful color as to be
well-nigh irresistible. Such a dia-
mond cannot be otherwise than
most satisfactory possession, for in
its last analysis diamonds mission
is to be seen and admired.
When all is said and DONE we get
back to BRILLIANCY and COLOR as
the desideratums in choosing a dia-
mond, whether for personal wear or
investment. Hence, diamond buy
ing wisdom may be summed up as
follows: BUY THE GREATEST
BRILLIANCY THAT YOU CAN FIND
AND WITH THIS COUPLE THE
FINEST COLOR AND THE LEAST
IMPERFECTION OF MATERIAL
THAT YOU CAN. If you are limited
in your expenditure, let the weight
of the diamond govern that. In any
event do not sacrifice brilliancy and
fine color for mere size. Follow
this advice and your diamond will
not suffer by comparison in any COM
pany in which you may find your
self. Moreover, it will prove a very
safe and profitable investment.
ARNOLD VAN MOSKIN,
Lapidarist.