more
or less in the established weight may mean a pound or so in or out of
pocket when the stone in question is priced at something like a hundred
pounds a carat.
A
smaller weight still than the carat is the unit of weight employed by
dealers in pearls; namely, the grain. But this is not the apothecary's
grain and only weighs twenty-five points or one-quarter of a carat.
Gems
are not carried loose in the dealer's pocket or jumbled loosely in a
box. They are placed in neatly folded paper packages (there is one and
only one universally recognised way of folding these) and each such
package has an appropriately coloured lining of specially prepared
tissue or thinner paper. The object of the prescribed folding-creases
in the wrapper is to prevent any stone from falling out, while the
coloured interior is intended to lend a suitable background with a view
to creating a first favourable impression. There is no deceit intended
by this and no expert is ever taken in by having goods presented to him
in this wise.
Nevertheless,
a neatly trimmed square of snowy cottonwool, upon which one's gems are
snugly bedded, has its psychological effect by persuading the eye that
the stones on display have value; there is also the important practical
fact that this packing prevents the finely cut points, edges and facets
from being abraded by other stones in the same package.
The
interior lining referred to is blue in various shades for pearls, a
glossy white or cream for diamonds, brick red for emeralds, glossy
white for rubies and sapphires, matt or glossy black for opals. Upon
the flap of the folded
