THE CAT'S-EYE JEWEL

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 66, 14 September 1929, Page 24

THE CATS-EYE JEWEL

A BEAUTIFUL STONE

(Copyright.) Coylon is probably the home of'more precious stones than any other spot on earth. The soil produces superb specimens of the ruby, sapphire, tourmalinej topaz,-spinel, garnet, zircon, star.stones, emerald, and amethyst—to mention only a few. In addition to these, fertile, sunny Ceylon is the world's principal source of another variety of gem, which may, by contrast, be placed under the category of "odd" or "curious." This is the lovely transparent gem-stone occurring in the different shades of green, yellow, and brown, called the chrysoberyl, or golden beryl. When well cut this is an extremely brilliant and effective stone; but it never occurs in a vivid colour. The green and brown specimens are of a soft, subdued tone, and form a!delicate contrast to gems of a more pronounced hue. The green, although it varies in shade, is always of the sage tint, and never hard, as in the emerald. The. yellow beryls are not unlike yellow sapphires, but are softer to the eye. The brown varieties approach the colour of rich mahogany. '■

To this important group of family gems the oddly-marked cat's-eyo be-longs—a-weirdly beautiful stone, onco very popular, but now almost entirely out of fashion and unappreciated. This gem is always cut s on cabochon—that is/with a ronnded surface, like half an orange—and displays a bright, silvery, shimmering line across the summit, which,.when the stone is carefully cut, rims directly down the centre of the gem.

The cats-eye occurs in all the shades of colour in which the parent stone, chrysoberyl, is found; but the line of ray is much less distinct and almost white. The sharper and narrower ray, the greater the value of the stone.'The most prized and valuable variety is the gooseberry-green cats-eye, while citron yellow and soft honey-coloured specimens are greatly esteemed. -The ray is caused !by peculiar tiny striations in the stone, the cutting of which-develops the steely reflection across its surface.

The cat 's-oyes fall froni fashion's grace naturally has had a disastrous effect on its value. The writer recently saw a fmo specimen for which a dealer of Ceylon refused £500 fifteen years ago. He probably would have difficulty in getting £100 for it to-day.