wave. He wanted assurance, a comparison between himself and Johnny Lance.
“I have never in my life She placed the emphasis carefully. “-
experienced anything like it.” He nodded, relieved, pleased - and stood up.
“After breakfast we will go to town.” This morning, Edmund, Benedict’s man, chauffeured the Bentley. When they alighted at the north end of Bond Street and walked arm in arm along the pavement, Edmund tailed them at a dignified crawl, steadfastly ignoring the abuse of other drivers.
The morning was cool enough for Ruby to wear her new cream mink, and the looks of admiration and envy she drew from the other strollers delighted Benedict. He wanted to impress her, he wanted to flaunt his wealth.
“The wife of a diamond man must have diamonds.” He spoke on impulse as they came up to an expensive- looking jewellers. Ruby squeezed his arm and turned to look into the window.
“Good Lord,” Benedict laughed. “Not here!” And Ruby looked at him with surprise.
Mockingly Benedict began reading the signs in the window.
“Paradise jewellers. A large selection of blue white gems.
Certificate of flawlessness with every diamond.
Perfect flawless stones at bargain prices as advertised on TV
and in the national Press. Small deposit secures your ring now. A
diamond is forever - show her you really care.””
“But they are such a well-known firm. They have branches all over the world - even in South
Africa!” Ruby protested, and bridled a little as Benedict smiled patronizingly.
“Let me explain about diamonds. They are bought for two reasons by two different types of people. Firstly by rich men as investments that will not erode and can only increase in value. These men buy notable stones on the advice of experts, the best of the gem diamond production goes to them. So when Richard Burton buys Liz a 300,000 pounds diamond he is not being extravagant - on the contrary he is being ultraconservative and thrifty with his money.”
“That’s the kind of meanness I like,” Ruby laughed, and Benedict smiled at her honesty.
“You may find me as thrifty,“he promised.
“Go on,” she said, “tell me more about diamonds.”
“Well, there is another type who buys diamonds. Usually just one in his life, luckily for him - and he very seldom tries to resell it again or he would get a nasty shock. This type is Joe Everybody who wants to get married. He usually goes to somebody like Paradise jewellers.” Benedict poked a derisive finger at the sign in the window. “Because he has seen it on telly and he can get a ring on the instalment plan. In many cases the deposit covers the dealer for the cost of the stone - the rest goes on advertising, finance charges and, of course, profit.”
“How do you know
Paradise jewellers are that type?” Ruby’s attention was wide-eyed and girlish.
“You recognize them firstly by the big Advertising splurge, then by their language.” Again he studied the notices in the window.”
A large selection of blue-white. gems” - of every thousand stones of jewellery quality produced only one is fine enough in colour to be termed blue-white. It is unlikely they have a large selection. “Gem”
is a special term reserved for a diamond which is in every way superb.
“Flawless stones at bargain prices” - the lack of flaws in a diamond is only one of many factors governing its value. As for bargain prices -
there ain’t no such animal. Prices are maintained at the lowest level by fierce competition among expert and canny dealers, and there are no “sales” or special prices for anyone
“But where should a person buy a diamond?” Ruby was impressed and dismayed despite herself.
“Not here.” Benedict chuckled. “Come, I will show you.” And before she could protest he had taken her arm and swept her into the shop, to be greeted with enthusiasm by the manager who must have noticed Ruby’s mink and the attendant Bentley, which was causing a small traffic jam outside the shop.
“Good morning, madam and sir. May I be of service to you?”
“Yes,” Benedict turned to Ruby, as they settled down in the manager’s office with a tray of diamond rings in front of them. “You cannot examine a diamond properly in its setting.” He selected the biggest diamond, took from his pocket a gold-plated penknife fitted with a special tool and prised open the claws of the setting to a chorus of horrified squeals from the staff.
“I will make good any damage,” he snapped, and they subsided as
Benedict took the loose stone and laid it on the velvet-covered tray.
“Firstly, size. This stone is about one carat.” He looked for confirmation to the manager who nodded. “Let us say the value of this stone is 500 pounds. Ten similar stones will be worth 5,000 pounds, right?
However, a ten-carat stone may be worth as much as 175,000. So the price per carat rises sharply as the total weight of the stone increases. If I were investing I would not touch a stone under three carats.” The staff were listening now with as much attention as Ruby.
“Next, colour,” said Benedict, and glanced at the manager. “A
sheet of clean white paper, please.” The manager scratched in his drawer and laid a sheet of paper in front of Benedict who placed the stone upon it, bottom upwards.
“We compare the colour it “draws” from white paper in good natural light.” He looked up at the manager. “Switch off the fluorescent lights, and open those curtains, please.” The manager obeyed with alacrity.
“This is a matter of experience. The colour is judged by a standard. We forget about the fancy rare colours like blue and red and green, and take our top standard as blue-white.
A stone so white as to appear slightly blue, after which the distinctions drop to “fine white”, and “white”. Then stones which “draw” a yellowish tinge which we call “Cape” - in different shades, then finally stones which “draw” a brown colour - which will reduce the value of a stone by up to eighty percent.” Benedict fished in his fob pocket and pulled out a guinea case which he opened.
“Every expert carries a special diamond which he uses as a gauge for colour by which to judge all other stones. This is mine.” The staff exchanged apprehensive looks as Benedict placed a small diamond beside the other. He studied them a moment then replaced his gauge in the case.
“Second Silver Cape, I’d say,” he grunted, and the staff looked suitably abashed. “Now we consider the stone’s perfection.” He looked at the manager. “Please lend me your I loupe.
“Loupe?“The manager was mystified.
“Yes, your jeweller’s glass.” the manager was deeply embarrassed.
“You sell diamonds - Yet you do not own a loupe.” Benedict shook his head in disapproval. “No matter, I have my own.” Benedict took the glass from his inner pocket and placed it in his eye.
“Imperfections can be almost negligible - a “natural” at the girdle, or a bubble or pinpoint of carbon in the stone, on the other hand they can be gross “cracks”, “clouds”, “ice”, or “feathers” which will ruin the value of the stone.
But this one is flawless - so when the certificate of flawlessness is issued there will be no misrepresentation.” Benedict closed the glass and tucked it back into his pocket.
However, in order to produce a flawless stone, the cut has been squeezed.” He held up the stone between thumb and forefinger.
“The cut or “make” of a stone is the fourth and final decider of its value. The “make” should conform closely to the “ideal”. This stone has been cut to exclude a flaw, and in consequence it is badly proportioned - heavy and out of round. I would prefer to see a graceful stone which includes a slight imperfection rather than a grotesque little cripple like this He put the diamond down on the desk.
“The asking price by Paradise Jewellers for this stone is “500 pounds. - which would be fair and correct for a gem. However, the colour is poor and although it is flawless it is of ungainly make. Its true value would be about - ah, let’s see - 185 pounds. approximately.” There was another chorus of protest from the assembled staff, led by the manager.
“I assure you, sir, that all our stones have been most carefully appraised.”
“How long have you been with Paradise Jewellers?” Benedict demanded brusquely. “Four months, isn’t it?” The manager gaped at him.
“Before that you were a salesman in the showroom of a large firm of embalmers and undertakers.” 1, well - I
