GEMS OF THE EMPIRE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 1 November 1924, Page 12

GEMS OF THE EMPIRE.

THE DISTRIBUTION OF PRECIOUS STONES. The British Empire, we were reminded the other day, produces annually preeious stones far greater in value than all the other nations put together and London is, the chief market for every kind of .jewel.

Some interesting facts concerning the various sources of supply have been 4 given in an interview with a representative of The Observer by Mr W. Larltam,’ managing director of Claremont, Ltd., dealers in precious stones. Taking diamonds first, practically the whole market at the present time, he said, comes from South Africa. Some of the finest stones have in the past come from India. There are also Australian diamonds, and,their commercial ' value is higher now than it was. Owing to their, hardness the stones have'hitherto been difficult to cut’, but modem methods are overcoming this difficulty., . ’ , - • •

The next most important stones, sapphires, and their red variety rubies come chiefly from Burmah’ Cashmere, Ceylon and Australia. Outside the : Empire,, Siam and ' Montana also produce them. Emeralds have a somewhat different relationship to the Empire; Whilst India is the- onlv source of supply within the Empire, practically the only emeralds'that are now being mined . come,- from: .South America. At the present time we, are working on, that is to say, tocutting, the-fine stones which were produced by India (and also by Siberia) perhaps hundreds of years ago. No new supplies are coming from India, but an expedition is starting shortly for the East for the purpose of re-exploring the regions which were worked in past centuries and possibly opening up again the old mines. ■ " - Garnets come to us from most parts ! of the world, and there is only' one variety, the Bobrowska green garnet, of Russia, which is not found in British possessions. Most of the finest and rarest stones, including the beautiful Ceylon rose garnet, come from some part of the Empire. Egypt is the home (and Persia also) of the turquoise. Jargoons, or zircons, the beautiful blue variety of : which is a new stone on the market \ sipce the waf, come from Ceylon,, the home also of the crvsoberyl and the cat’s eye and alexandrite, which belong to the same family. Chinese jade, so fashionable at the present moment, comes from Burmah, and owes ;it3 name to the fact that it is worked ,by Chinese. Most of the fine rich, red-coloured amber, which is sold as Chinese, is'also found in Bunnah. ' The Empire holds ’ practically the market for pearls. Indian arid Australian pearls are unrivalled*. From Australia, too, come the finest opals, both black and white varieties, as well as fancy. Evens* the; MOxieaii fire opal, so called from its,brilliant deep red flame colour, is repeated in Australia. Amethysts and the lesser fancy stones caine from all parts'of the Empire, and from, all parts of the world for that matter, .The only fancy stone of any importance which; is: not found in British. possessions is' the yellow topaz; which conies‘ principally from Brazil. White- and blue topaz is ; found in Cevlon and Australia.

With the exception of diamonds, which are cut in Holland, though many are now also cut at Brighton; the finest of all precious stones are cut or recut in London. .