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PRECIOUS STONES
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which clean goods of this grade command, use the imperfects, but adhere to the quality.
Below
the " crystal" assortment, by almost imperceptible degrees, the color
loses its purity by deepening shades of yellow, brown, and occasionally
a greenish hue. Some of the lighter shades of brown can scarcely be
distinguished except by careful comparison, and are much in demand for
trade which object to yellow but will not pay the price of white goods.
White
stones with a slight cast of yellow are termed " Silver Capes." As the
tint deepens, they are called " Capes," and " By-Waters" when they are
decidedly yellow.
There
are stones, comparatively rare and unclassified, of uncertain or "
false" color. These have two or more differently tinted strata, and
vary in apparent color according to the position or light in which they
are viewed. It may be a combination of white and yellow, or blue and
yellow or brown, etc. Some face up blue, and side yellow, or the
reverse. Some show still another color from the back. Others will face
differently, according to the light under which they are seen. One
notably fine stone bought by a speculator in Philadelphia, some years
ago, was a beautiful blue under the sky, but appeared to be off-color
in-doors. A diamond importer of New York had another, which had a blue,
brown, or yellow cast, according to the angle at which it was held.
Another, owned by a jeweller of Cleveland, Ohio, was a beautiful even
orange on the face. Viewed from the back, it was white with a yellow
star in the centre; the color was all in and around the culet.
Due
consideration should be given to the face color, for these stones
suffer in value as the poorer tints predominate when faced up, and
appreciate as the poor color can be seen only from the edge and back.
Yellowish-white diamonds are apt to be brilliant night stones, and do not, as a rule, show their color so plainly by
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