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28 The Working of Precious Stones.
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form as shall send it forth with the greatest weight consistent with beauty and brilliancy.
In
selecting Precious Stones you must mentally ask yourself the following
questions : Is their transparency conspicuous ? Are they like dew-drops
hanging from a damask rose leaf ; are they of pure water, and do they
possess the power of refraction in a high degree ? Or, are they
transparent and coloured ; and, if the latter, have they a play of
colour ? Lastly, have they notable imperfections?
Transparent
stones must not be too thick, for either they will refract light too
strongly, or impede the light passing through, and thus rob the stone
of its brilliancy and fire.
In
colourless stones, the width and thickness which they must have are, as
a rule, determinate; whilst in coloured ones they are regulated by the
intensity and thoroughness of the colour.
The
workman is compelled sometimes to give the stone a form other than that
intended by nature, in consequence of flaws and clefts, and in order to
remedy irregularities in the stone. This is most frequently the case in
large stones.
Different
forms of cutting receive different names, which are often extended to
the finished stone itself. For instance, if you hear of a " Brilliant "
or " Rose " you know at once that the first is a Diamond with a table
and culet, whilst the second is only a low pyramidal stone, facetted
over the top, but with the under surface quite flat.
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ι.—THE BRILLIANT. This is the most favourable form for enhancing the play of colour, and is therefore most effective for all Precious
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