Page:A treatise on diamonds and precious stones including their history Natural and commercial.djvu/128

 THE ORIENTAL AMETHYST OR VIOLET SAPPHIRE.

interesting gem appears to unite the blue of the sapphire with the red of the ruby, so nicely blended as to produce the most perfeet violet color. Language is insufficient to express the beautiful hue and lustre of this gem—indeed the captivating effect and fascinating qualities of these precious stones set description at defiance.

finest Oriental Amethyst in Europe is also in the valuable collection of Mr. Hope; it is of considerable size, though smaller than his sapphire or ruby: it is finely proportioned, and exceeds an inch in its greatest diameter. It has the peculiar property of transmitting, by day-light, the most beautiful and perfect violet color; but by candle-light a decided blue! This stone was in the possession of a noble-