BLUE STONES. 45
colour,
just sufficiently dichroic to show passages of bluish-green with the
green. Green tourmalines are much more markedly dichroic, and it is
much to be regretted that, with rare exceptions, the patrons of the
jeweller's art still remain ignorant, not only of the peculiarly rich
and varied qualities of the colour of the tourmaline, but even of the
existence of this gem-stone. With moonstones, or with grey and
ivory-white enamel, long prismatic tourmalines, carefully cut, afford a
delightful colour-combination peculiarly fitted for larger pieces of
personal adornment, such as pendants and brooches. The so-called green
garnets of the Urals, especially those which are of an olive or
pistachio green, are lustrous and fiery stones, but their softness
precludes their use in rings. The same objection holds good with regard
to that lovely stone the peridot ; but this species occurs frequently
of large size, and so is well adapted for employment in jewels not
subject to much attrition. It is a dichroic stone ; it accords well
with small puce, violet, or indigo spinels, also with black and white
enamel ; small dark-coloured almandine garnets may sometimes be
associated with peridots of fair size advantageously. The most
beautiful of all green stones are those choice green zircons which show
a full velvety leaf green. These always have a low density not
exceeding 4.15, and often no more than 4. They have the merit of
appearing particularly-bright by artificial light. White enamel, or a
border of very small green zircons, enhances their beauty.
The
aquamarine and other pale varieties of the beryl are stones which lose
nothing of their brilliancy at night. Their beauty may generally be
greatly enhanced by the judicious use of creamy white enamel, with
delicate arabesques of black or indigo blue. It is not often that the
hue of the beryl is such as to bear the juxtaposition of other coloured
stones.
Blue Stones.—Of
these there are four that claim notice in this place—sapphire, blue
spinel, iolite, and lapis-lazuli. Rich yellow dead-gold settings
suggest themselves for most of these materials.
