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Ch. 1: Braganza Diamond

Introduction: The Diamond in History Page of 312 Ch. 1: Braganza Diamond Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
I.
THE BRAGANZA.
The Largest Reported Diamond extant—The Romantic Story of its Discovery—Guarded as a Treasure of Portugal—Another Version of its Strange History— Errors of the Scribes—" Rule of Thumb " in the Old Days—Enormous Value of the Braganza if genuine— Diamond or Topaz ?—The Negro and his Supposed Treasure—A Terrible Disappointment.
F genuine, the Braganza is by far the largest diamond, not only now in existence, but of which there is any record. But its very size, weighing no less than 1,680 carats in the rough, has caused it to be suspected, and no opportunity has hitherto been afforded of examining it with sufficient care to warrant anything like a conclusive judgment as to its true character. It is also to be noticed that even were it ascertained to be a diamond, it might have to be greatly reduced in size, if not cleaved into two or more stones, in the cutter's hands. As a rule the larger the stone the more it proportionately loses in size in the process necessary for the full develop­ment of its beauty. The loss is usually reckoned at about one half for moderately large gems. But for one of such large dimensions as the Braganza it could not safely be estimated at perhaps less than two-thirds. This would reduce the finished jewel to about
Introduction: The Diamond in History Page of 312 Ch. 1: Braganza Diamond
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