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Sec. III, Ch. 4: The Saffire

Sec. III, Ch. 4: The Saffire Page of 366 Sec. III, Ch. 4: The Saffire Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
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The Sapphire.
engraven on it, by Cneius. A very remarkable and famous Sapphire, belonging to the Marchese Rinuccini, weighing fifty-three carats, has a representation of a hunting scene engraven upon it, with the inscription "Constantius Aug." Among a number of old family jewels there was found by the author a few years' ago, a Sapphire beautifully engraved with the crest and arms of Cardinal Wolsey.
The value of Sapphires is very much determined by special circumstances ; colour, purity, and size must be taken into consideration when fixing the sum to be paid.
Those imperfections which appear at times in the Sapphire; and which lessen its value, are clouds, milky half-opaque spots, white glassy stripes, rents, knots, a con­gregating of colours at one spot, and silky-looking flakes on the table of the stone. Whenever a Sapphire obtains a purple tint it is an unfailing indication of the presence of the silky defect somewhere in the stone. If a greenish tint be observable, then a " milky flaw " will probably be de­tected on careful examination.
SIAM SAPPHIRES. Some of the finest Sapphires are obtained at the present day from certain mines in Siam. They occur principally in the Province of Battambong, where they have been systematically worked only within the last few years ; and they are also found, associated with Rubies, in Chantaboon and Krat. Many of the stones yielded by these mines present an unrivalled velvety blue colour, and it fortunately happens that the Sapphires of over one carat in weight are better in colour and in general quality than smaller stones. Although the mines have only been regularly worked for about thirty years, the occurrence of Sapphires there was probably known to the natives long previously.
Sec. III, Ch. 4: The Saffire Page of 366 Sec. III, Ch. 4: The Saffire
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