Examples of household taste . crucible. In three hours it had disappeared. Had he known enough toenclose the stone from the air, he might have heated it as hot as he chosewithout injury to the gem. Indeed, diamonds are sometimes increased in bril-liancy by this process; but it is not an experiment we would advise any ofour amateur readers to attempt. How the diamond comes into existence is amuch more interesting question than how it may be destroyed; but though thereare many theories on the subject, nothing is positively determined as yet. The largest diamonds in existence are thought to be th
Examples of household taste . crucible. In three hours it had disappeared. Had he known enough toenclose the stone from the air, he might have heated it as hot as he chosewithout injury to the gem. Indeed, diamonds are sometimes increased in bril-liancy by this process; but it is not an experiment we would advise any ofour amateur readers to attempt. How the diamond comes into existence is amuch more interesting question than how it may be destroyed; but though thereare many theories on the subject, nothing is positively determined as yet. The largest diamonds in existence are thought to be the Braganza, in thecrown of Portugal, and the Borneo gem, belonging to the Rajah of Streeter, in his book on Precious Stones and Gems, states that theBraganza weighs 1680 carats, and if it is genuine, about which there seems tobe some doubt, it is worth nearly ^60,000,000 ; at least these are the printedfigures. The Borneo diamond has been the occasion of many battles, and at 458 THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, Silver Fairy Table: Elkington &> Co., Birmingham, INDUSTRIAL ART. 459 one time two men-of-war and ^150,000 were offered for it by a governor ofBatavia, but the Rajah regards it as a talisman, and will not sell it. It is saidto weigh 367 carats. It must be remembered that a diamond before it is cutand after it is cut is a very different thing; and the advantages of cutting are
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