94 GENERAL CHARACTERS OE PRECIOUS STONES 



of importance been yet obtained. The French chemist, Fremy, has prepared crystals 

 of ruby, which, though not large, are yet of sufficient size to be mounted as gems. It 

 appears also that a method has been discovered for the artificial production of turquoise. 

 The details of this method are, however, kept secret. These subjects will be reconsidered 

 when we come to treat specially of ruby and turquoise. 



It may probably be safely asserted that the artificial production of every precious 

 stone in a form suitable for decorative purposes is only a question of time. But the 

 possessor of natural gems need not fear on this account a depreciation in the value of 

 his jewels, since the artificial products hitherto obtained are but just within measurable 

 distance of the required standard. Moreover, research in the direction of the preparation 

 of artificial rubies has shown that the cost of artificial production, owing to the expense 

 of raw material of the necessary purity and the costly nature of the apparatus required, 

 is quite equal to the price commanded by natural stones. 



It is probably possible, even at the present day, to so improve on the apparatus 

 and methods of manipulation in the artificial manufacture of rubies that fine crystals 

 may be produced at less cost. Naturally such researches have been frequently undertaken, 

 although possibly often in secret, owing to the value a happy discovery might have. The 

 possession of the secret by which costly precious stones could be prepared at comparatively 

 small cost, in a condition equal to that of natural stones, would indeed be a source of 

 wealth ! The artificial production of precious stones in large quantities would, of course, 

 very soon bring their price down to a minimum, and would also depreciate the value of 

 natural stones. Thus it would result that precious stones which had previously been rare 

 and costly objects, and their acquisition possible only to the rich, would come to be within 

 the reach of all classes. This being so, their possession would cease to distinguish the 

 upper and wealthy classes from less-favoured individuals, and hence precious stones would 

 lose the attribute to which at the present time a large part of their value is due. 



J. COUNTERFEITING: 



In dealing in objects of such value as precious stones, it is not surprising to find 

 that efforts are often made to substitute for a genuine and costly stone one of similar 

 outward appearance, but of less value, in order to deceive an inexperienced buyer. In 

 place of fine stones of high price, attempts are made to pass off stones of less value or 

 glass imitations of the same colour ; or, in place of faultless specimens, genuine stones 

 disfigured by the presence of faults, which are hidden by one device or another as 

 completely as possible. Often two small stones are cemented together so that they 

 appear as a single large one ; or, again, the upper portion of a cut stone may be genuine 

 while the lower is false. 



The inventive genius of dishonest dealers in precious stones is responsible for many 

 other methods by which the unwary purchaser may be deceived. Any person desirous 

 of obtaining a genuine precious stone of any considerable value must be prepared to 

 exercise the greatest caution, unless he is dealing with a well-known and reliable man 

 whose integrity is above suspicion. The more costly the stone the greater is the caution 

 necessary, for the possibility of gi-eater gain is more inducement to fraud. In such 

 cases fraudulent devices are concealed with greater dexterity, and for their detection a 

 sharp eye is necessary as well as expert knowledge, and such experience can only be 

 acquired by familiarity with the trade. 



The deceptions practised by Eastern dealers in precious stones are notorious. Many 

 a traveller in India, Burma, Ceylon, &c., with no thought of suspicion in his mind, has 



