Green Gems the Fashion

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 986, 31 May 1930, Page 25

Green Gems the Fashion

New Discovery Galled Bonalite Green semi-precious stones of all I kinds are particularly popular this I spring. Chinese jade heads the list. ! This is only “semi-precious” iD j name (writes an overseas correspondent), for really good jade, translucent and of a rich colour, is very costly. Less perfect jade, slightly cloudy and much paler in tone is, however, very beautiful, while from South Africa comes an opaque variety in a different shade of green, with a good deal more yellow in it. Another extremely effective South | African stone, which has only been recently discovered, is called “Bonalite.” It closely resembles Chinese jade, though it is much less rich in colour than the finest specimens, and its value is, of course, considerably less. CHANGING LIGHT Crocidolite is another semi-precious 1 gem which is fashionable this yea , j and is used to make attractiv e cuft- ; links for both men and women. This j stone is cabochon-cut, and has a shifti ing light in it, rather like a cat’s-eye. j Usually it is tinted, the favoured col* j ours being rose-red or a warm golden : tint. Both these shades are espo'-i----j ally suited for wearing with the new 1 tweeds.