A Treatise on Gems: In Reference to Their Practical and Scientific Value : a Useful Guide for the Jeweller, Lapidary, Artist, Amateur, Mineralogist, and Chemist : Accompanied by a Description of the Most Interesting American Gems, and Ornamental and Architectural MaterialsA. Hanford, 1838 - 162 pages |
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according acid Agate alumina Amber Amethyst ancients beautiful becomes electric Beryl blow-pipe blue borax Brazil brilliant cabochon calcined called cameos carats Carnelion Cave Ceylon Chalcedony Chrysoberyl Chrysolite Chrysoprase collection conchoidal fracture copper crown cut and polished Diamond dollars ear-rings electric by rubbing Emerald engraved facets Faroe islands Felspar fissures Fluorspar foil francs gangues Garnet gems grains Granite gray green heat hundred Hydrophane Idocrase imitated inches islands Jasper jewellers jewellery Labrador lapidary likewise lime limpid lustre marble mineral occurs massive Onyx Opal opaque Oriental ornaments oxide of iron Pearls polished polished with rotten-stone Porphyry possesses pounds powder Precious Opal precious stones Quartz resinous rings Ruby Sapphire Saxony scratches glass scratches white glass Serpentine Siberia silex snuff-boxes sold sometimes specific gravity specimens Spinelle strass streak-powder thousand tin plate Topaz Tourmaline translucent transparent Turquoise varieties vitreous lustre weighs wheel with emery yellow yellowish Zircon
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Page 66 - The most perfect and beautiful diamond hitherto found is probably that brought from India by an English gentleman of the name of Pitt, who sold it to the Duke of Orleans, by whom it was placed among the crown jewels of France. This jewel weighs rather more than 136 carats, and was sold for the sum of J
Page 32 - GEM-SCDLPTURE ; the glyptic art, or lithoglyptics ; the art of representing designs upon precious stones, either in raised work (cameos), or by figures cut into or below the surface (tniogWos).
Page 164 - Each diver carries down with him a large net in the manner of a sack, tied to his neck by a long cord, the other end of which is fastened to the side of the bark. This net is to hold the oysters gathered from the rock, and the cord is to pull up the diver when his bag is full, or when he wants air.
Page 36 - ... polygonal planes, and thus to bring out to the best advantage, the wonderful refulgence of this beautiful gem ; and secondly, by cutting out such flaws as may happen to be near the surface, to remove those blemishes that materially detract from its beauty, and consequently from its value. The removal of flaws is a matter of great importance, for, owing to the form in which the Diamond is cut, and its high degree of refrangibility, the smallest fault is magnified and becomes obtrusively visible...
Page 36 - CUTTING AND POLISHING DIAMONDS has a twofold object ; first, to divide the natural surface of the stone in a symmetrical manner, by means of highly-polished polygonal planes, and thus to bring out, to the best advantage, the wonderful refulgence of this beautiful gem ; and. secondly, by cutting out such flaws as may happen to be near the surface, to remove those blemishes which materially detract from its beauty, and consequently from its value . The removal of flaws is a matter of great importance.
Page 83 - Onde, in the East Indies, is said to have given to the king of England, among other presents, an Emerald of the size of a hen's egg. The treasury of Vienna is said to contain an Emerald of two thousand two hundred and five carats, valued at three hundred thousand crowns. The most magnificent specimen of Emerald was presented to the cathedral of Loretto, by one of the Spanish kings. It consists of a mass of white quartz, thickly implanted with Emeralds, more than an inch in diameter.
Page 68 - ... and Maltese crosses equally rich. In the front of the Maltese cross which is in front of the crown is the enormous heart-shaped ruby, once worn by the chivalrous Edward the Black Prince, but now destined to adorn the head of a virgin queen.
Page 31 - St. Bartholomew; Chrysolite, - - St. Matthew; Beryl, - - - St. Thomas; Chrysoprase, - - St. Thaddeus ; Topaz, - - - St. James the Less; Hyacinth, - - - St. Simeon; Amethyst, - - St. Matthias. The...
Page 40 - ... triangular facets adjoining the girdle. The brilliant being thus completed, is set with the table side uppermost, and the collet side implanted in the cavity made to receive the diamond. The brilliant is always three times as thick as the rose diamond.
Page 68 - ... dove, or in the coronation ceremony, " the rod of equity and mercy." The royal crown, or crown of state, is usually formed and worn according to the taste of the existing Monarch. The crown which was made for George IV.'s coronation weighed five pounds and a half, but that worn by her present Majesty weighs little more than three pounds. It is composed of hoops of silver enclosing a cap of deep purple velvet ; these hoops are completely covered with precious atones, and are surmounted by an orb,...