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HOW TO BUY DIAMONDS
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In
all, stones worth $3,568.75, or $131.25 less than if they were all
four-grainers, and this calculation allows a full comparative valuation
for the smaller stones. For a number of years past, and at present, the
price of four-grainers in ordinary goods governs that of all sizes up
to about six-grainers. Eight-grainers command five to ten per cent.
more. They are higher, comparatively, in Europe; here there is less
difference. As the stones become finer, the price for larger sizes
increases with the fineness of the goods, so that large Wesseltons,
Ja-gers and fancy-colored stones command either a very large per-carat
price or a piece price which does not regard the price per carat. For
instance, a white, recut Indian diamond of about six carats is held by
the owner now, a Maiden Lane dealer, at five thousand dollars for the
stone.
Three-grainers
will range, according to the demand, from fifteen to twenty per cent,
less than four-grainers, and there is about the same difference between
quarters and halves, and halves and three-quarters.
The
price of sizes declines down to eighths, after which the price
increases at an inverse ratio with the size until a figure is reached
in excess of the price of four-grainers.
The
sizes most stable in value range from three-eighths to one and one-half
carats. Melees from quarters down are more variable, as the large use
of them depends upon fashions which come and go. When cluster work and
fancy designs are in demand, the price of melee goes up, otherwise it
is apt to be slow. The opening of the German Southwest African fields
has thrown a large quantity of melee on the market, and 23
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