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Because of the pre-eminence of Dr. Max Bauer's Precious Stones, in the realm which that great work so effectually covers, the arrangement of precious stones made by the distinguished author, and followed throughout in his work, is of interest. It is as follows:
Diamond Corundum Ruby, Sapphire, including star-sapphire and white sapphire, "Oriental aquamarine," "Oriental emerald," "Oriental chrysolite," "Oriental topaz," "Oriental hyacinth," "Oriental amethyst," adamantine-spar. Spinel "Ruby-spinel," "Balas-ruby," "Alamandine-spinel," Rubicelle, Blue-spinel, Ceylonite. Chrysoberyl Cymophane ("Oriental cat's-eye"), Alexandrite. Beryl Emerald, Aquamarine, "Aquamarine-chrysolite," Golden beryl. Euclase Phenakite Topaz Zircon Hyacinth Garnet Group Hessonite (Cinnamon stone), Spessartite, Almandine, Pyrope (Bohemian garnet, "Cape ruby," and Rhodolite), Demantoid, Grossularite, Melanite, Topazolite. Tourmaline Opal Precious opal, Fire-opal, Common opal. Turquoise Bone-turquoise Lazulite Callainite Olivine Chrysolite, Peridot.
Cordierite Idocrase Axinite Kyanite Staurolite Andalusite Chiastolite. Epidote Piedmontite Dioptase Chrysocolla Garnierite Sphene Prehnite Chlorastolite Zonochlorite Thomsonite Lintonite Natrolite Hemimorphite Calamine Felspar Group Amazon-stone, Sun-stone, Moon-stone, Labradorescent feldspar, Labradorite. Elaeolite Cancrinite Lapis-lazuli Hauynite Sodalite Obsidian Moldavite Pyroxene and Hornblende Group Hypersthene (with Bronzite, Bastite, Diallage), Diopside, Spodumene (Hiddenite), Rhodonite (and Lepidolite), Nephrite, Jadeite (Chloromelanite). Quartz. Crystallised quartz: Rock-crystal, Smoky-quartz, Amethyst, Citrine, Rose-quartz, Prase, Sapphire-quartz, Quartz with enclosures, Cat's-eye, Tiger-eye. Compact quartz: Hornstone, Chrysoprase, Wood-stone, Jasper, Aventurine. Chalcedony: Common Chalcedony, Carnelian, Plasma, Heliotrope, Agate with Onyx, etc. Malachite Chessylite Satin-spar (Fibrous Calcite, Aragonite, and Gypsum). Fluor-spar Apatite Iron-pyrites Haematite Ilmenite Rutile Amber Jet In an appendix Dr. Bauer places Pearls and Coral.
Of the authorities named as classifying gems, Bauer and Kluge are manifestly moved by their scientific instincts, while Streeter was actuated by popular demand, but responded to temporary conditions and possibly, although maybe unconsciously, to personal interest.
The final test of the rank of gems is their cost in the market, for that tribunal is affected by every factor and influence in the case. The five gems distinguished in this book as "the precious stones" far outclass the gems in the long list that follows in the test of cost, in which all their merits are considered and summed up. Streeter exalts above all gems the pearl, the mollusc product which Bauer relegates with the comparatively common coral to an appendix. Streeter, who is recognised as a high British authority, accords the ruby second place and places the diamond third; but when he inscribed this judgment "The Syndicate," which now in his own city of London controls with the output of the South African diamond mines the world's gem markets, did not exist. As Streeter was, when he wrote his Precious Stones and Gems, expensively and hazardously exploiting the famous ruby mines of Burma, he naturally regarded the ruby as of prime importance.
Kluge's classification is primarily based on the degree of hardness, clearly from the viewpoint of the strictly scientific mineralogist. Dr. Bauer also yields to the mineralogical influence, for, while he justly leads with the diamond, following it with the ruby and then the sapphire, he continues by naming a line of gems seldom handled, concluding with "Adamantine spar," a name which some jewellers have never heard nor have they seen the mineral it specifies. This extreme course is pursued by Dr. Bauer because these several stones are alike with the ruby and the sapphire in being the mineral corundum. Dr. Bauer then named spinel, and its varieties chrysoberyl and cymophane, before reaching the noble emerald.
Exceptions may be taken to the order in which semi-precious stones are named by the author by those whose individual experiences in trade have differed; but it is believed that the five precious stones, and the order in which they are named, represent the understanding of American gem dealers and well-informed purchasers, and that the classification of the semi-precious stones fairly represents their general popularity.
Here it may be said, in connection with the influence the value of gems has in their classification, that the price of any kind of precious stone, or of individual specimens, while depending chiefly upon beauty, durability, and similar characteristics, is governed also by extrinsic considerations such as the law of supply and demand and many other things, including fashions, fads, and fancies. A common question propounded to stone merchants is, What is the price of diamonds, sapphires, rubies, or other gems? as though each kind of stone had a common price in the market, like October wheat or steel billets. Each gem stands strictly upon its own merits, and in pronouncing a valuation on it the expert dealer takes into consideration every one of the several factors that are apparent to his keen and reflective examination. Considering the very slight differences involved, or that appear slight to the inexperienced, it is remarkable how nearly several different experts will agree upon the market value of a stone upon which each of them renders an opinion. In the following pages the various precious and semi-precious stones will be considered in the order in which they are arranged in our own classification on pages 9 and 10. |
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Precious Stones Guide Vol 4
>> A Comparison of the Various Classifications of Precious and Semiprecious Stones
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