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Ch. 2: Classification Gemstones

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12 A Book of Precious Stones
rather than for personal decoration. As examples of such stones may be cited the Agate, Malachite, and Rock-crystal.
Dr. Max Bauer, in his great work on precious stones, discusses in a very interesting way the motives of mineralogists and jewellers in group, ing and classifying gems, and seems to regard each as perfectly justified from their different view-points. As an example he cites the classi­fication by K. E. Kluge, the German authority, as used in his Eandbuch der Edelsteinkimde, published in 1860, wherein Kluge distinguishes five groups of precious stones, characterised by their value as gems, their hardness, optical characters, and rarity of occurrence. It is in­teresting to note also that, according to Bauer, Kluge was dominated to a large extent by the then market value of the stones, probably in Germany, or in the European markets in general.
KLUGE'S CLASSIFICATION
1. True Precious Stones or Jewels
Distinguishing characters are: great hardness, fine colour, perfect transparency combined with strong lustre (fire), susceptibility of a fine polish, and rarity of occurrence in specimens suitable for cutting.
Ch. 2: Classification Gemstones Page of 451 Ch. 2: Classification Gemstones
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