SYNTHETIC JEWELS.
EASILY DETECTED. DIAMONDS AND SAPPHIRES OF NO USE. Mr Baldwin mentioned in an address recently that he had heard that the day was fast approaching when it would be possible to make jewels in the laboratories. Over this fascinating prospect, however, manufacturing jewellers shake their heads. Recalling what has been done, the raana-in" director of one large English firm said the two stones that have been manufactured artificially are the sapphire (including the ruby) and the diamond, but synthetic diamonds are small, and of bad colour, and their cost far exceeds their worth, while synthetic sapphires are very easily detected and have no sale in the West End. The sapphire that is made artificially, he explained, is not actually the same as the mined stone, although the substance is the same; it differs i;; crystallisation. Besides its use for gems, the reconstructed sapnhire stone has been employed for many commercial purposes—in scientific instruments, Westinghouse brakes, aero controls, the manufacture of lead pencils, and so_ on, but _ the stress that always exists m synthetic stones is so great that the market for it has fallen off. From France there came some time ago what were called synthetic emeraldsj but they had not any of the characteristics of the real stone. They were not so bard, and they had not the same specific gravity. They were made of glass, with a small percentage of beryl crushed into it. _ Glass imitations of these and other precious stones have always existed, but So .far as synthetic gems are concerned there are none except sapphires and diamonds. Reference was made to the question of pearls. “ I maintain,” said the expert. “ that the cultured pearl is not a synthetic pearl. The difference between the two is that the one is aided by man and the ■ other is wild. Both are produced by the pearl oyster.” So, Mr Baldwin's problem, “ Would diamonds at a shilling a dozen be worn by everybody in this 'country? ” does not arise. -
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Otago Daily Times, Issue 20917, 6 January 1930, Page 10
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332SYNTHETIC JEWELS. Otago Daily Times, Issue 20917, 6 January 1930, Page 10
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