atmosphere
and surroundings, vagaries of the eye, etc., buyers will find it wise
to correct off-hand judgment by comparison with stones of which they
have tried and definite knowledge.
In
colored or " fancy" stones—and this term includes all kinds of precious
stones except diamonds—-color is a prime requisite. The question is
often asked, " What is the gem color of this or that stone ?" and many
efforts have been made to describe them. It is difficult to do so. Nor
can colors be printed sufficiently reliable to be authoritative. There
is no standard of color by which that of stones can be definitely
gauged and placed in the order of their merit. Stones are not
manufactured after a sample, but happen. Nevertheless, there is a
consensus of opinion among experts and lovers of precious stones about
color. Gem color is at once recognized by those who have seen it
before, and usually the uninformed also will prefer it before all
others, simply on its merits. The true shade in all gems is that degree
of the natural color most pleasing to the eye. It should affect the
sense of sight as silk velvet feels to the touch,—rich and soft. No gem
color is harsh or thin, or watery. It bears the same relation to an
ordinary one that an oil does to a water-color. Purity is the key-note
of gem color. A tainted, undecided, weak, or characterless color is not
" gem." An Oriental or Burmah ruby should be pigeon-blood red, full,
rich, and clean. It is rarely found without some admixture of black or
purple, and is valued as it is free from those prevailing faults. Many
rose-colored and pink rubies are very beautiful, but they do not rank
with the blood-reds. It is a common error among partially informed
jewellers to classify all the lighter shades of red as " pink," and
many really fine stones are refused consideration because they have not
the depth of color necessary for a gem, while others of thinner and
poorer, though darker, color are chosen. A clean red is good in any
degree. Pink is a
