Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 64, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 April 1917 — EMERALD MOST COSTLY GEM [ARTICLE]

EMERALD MOST COSTLY GEM

One 'Consideration That Makes Them High-Priced Is They Are Seldom Free From Flaws. In the mind of the average person the diamond Is regarded as the most valuable of precious stones, but as a matter of fact large flawless emeralds are a great deal more costly than diamonds of similar size. Jewelers say that one of the considerations that makes these rich green gems so highpriced? if perfect, is that they are seldom free from flaws. According to the Smithsonian institution good 4iamonds are worth from $250 to S4OO per carat, according to purity and size, whereas an emerald varies from $350 to SSOO, the price increasing rapidly with size. Flawless emeralds weighing more than four carats are said to be practically priceless, but diamonds of that size are worth only SI,OOO to $2,000. Another factor that is said to contribute to the high price of emeralds is that they are hard to imitate and, unlike some green stones, retain their color when heated and when subjected to artificial light. It is claimed that this latter fact makes them particularly desirable for evening wear.