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PRICES OF PRECIOUS STONES
The combinations
of qualities affecting the value of precious stones are so many that
it is impossible to quote grades and prices exactly. Cut diamonds are
graded as Rivers, Jagers, Wesseltons, Crystals (top crystals and
crystals), silver Capes (top silver capes and silver capes), Capes
(fine capes and capes), By-Waters, and Browns. But in all these grades
there are variations of color, quality, cut, and perfection, and the
combinations are so many that one might think there could be no
definite market value or price to any. Nevertheless, those familiar
with the trade know that men who are constantly handling diamonds by
the parcel will not differ much in their valuation of any one given lot.
Diamonds
as they are first put upon the market in the rough are divided into
various grades and sizes as closely as experts can assort them, and
sold to the cutters at an upshot price from which there can be no
deviation. It is true that some cutters are more expert than others in
handling the rough and getting from it better results in finished
material, but the average is close. After cutting, the goods are sold
to dealers with the cost of cutting and a small profit added. They are
then carried to various markets and sold again in unbroken parcels or "
original lots," or in divisions assorted to suit the various buyers, at
another small advance, and in the United States with a duty of ten per
cent, in addition.
The
sorting is done for this reason. Some dealers will only buy perfect
goods of fine color and cut; some are not so particular about color as
perfection; others insist on good color, but will use imperfects; and
so on. Many require the sizes to be assorted, buying their various
sized melees, one-, two-, three-, and four-grainers, etc., separately;
others prefer melange lots. It is at this stage where the greatest
variations
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