such decided depth of color as to make them desirable on that account.
Diamonds not distinguished by a color prefix are graded and quoted by dealers as follows:
"
Jagers " are white stones with a bluish tint. They are popularly
supposed to be from the Jagersfontein mine of the Orange River Colony
in South Africa, as many of the stones from this mine are of that
character, but all diamonds of similar quality except " Rivers," after
they leave the cutter, are now included under the name.
Next
to these and preferred by many are the " Rivers." These are white
stones of extreme purity and extraordinary hardness, found in river
beds. The brilliancy is peculiarly sharp and the color by comparison
with other white stones reminds one of snow. The perfection of these
qualities distinguish stones taken from wet diggings, and though all "
Rivers" have not the color requisite for this classification and some
have a bluish tint like the Jagers, it is generally conceded that they
are all harder and therefore more brilliant than those from dry
diggings. The fine white stones of Brazil and India, unless old-cut,
are now included under this head. Old-cut stones of this character are
termed " Old Mine."
The
next grade is called Wesselton, after a mine in South Africa of that
name. The color is very nearly equal to the Rivers, though it lacks
somewhat of the purity and snow-whiteness of the latter and the
brilliancy is not quite as sharp.
"
Crystals," which are subdivided into " top crystals " and " crystals,"
are white stones showing a trace of yellow when compared with the
higher grades. These
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