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358 THE DIAMOND
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reduce
the cost, according to degree, from ten to twenty per cent. Lumpy
stones are worth twenty per cent, less than well-proportioned,
finely-cut stones; over-spread stones, ten to twenty per cent. less.
The value of large stones, and very fine quality stones, of two carats
and over, is speculative. Perfectly matched stones are worth five to
ten per cent, more than the single price; more, if very large or
extraordinarily fine.
It
is sometimes advantageous for a dealer who cannot use parcels of a
size, to buy melange lots or parcels of mixed sizes. Good judgment and
discrimination are necessary, however. As all lots are now closely
assorted for color, the dissection of a lot is comparatively easy. The
sizes should be separated, and then again divided according to
perfection. An estimate of value on each lot should then be made and
the total amount of all divided into an average price per carat, for
comparison with that asked. Size price rules to a sixteenth light.
One's ideas may not be always quite correct according to general market
value, but they will probably accord with his particular market.
An
experience of some years suggests, that if a dealer may sometimes say
too much about his diamonds, he cannot know too much. To the consumer,
an old saying may be safely paraphrased thus: " Trust your jeweler and
keep your powder dry."
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