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Ch. 4 Green Stones

Ch. 4: Yellow Zircon Page of 149 Blue Stones: Sapphire Iolite Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
     
     
 
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.
  
 
 
  
     
Ch. 4: Yellow Zircon Page of 149 Blue Stones: Sapphire Iolite
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