Importations Of Diamonds Into The United States

FROM 1867—YEARS ENDING JUNE 30.

Rough. Cut.

1867 $ 1,317,420
1868 1,060,544
1869 1,997,282
1870 1,768,324
1871 2,340,482
1872 2,939,155
1873 $176,426 2,917,216
1874 144,629 2,158,872
1875 211,920 3,234,319
1876 186,404 2,409,516
1877 78,033 2,110,215
1878 63,270 2,970,469
1879 104,158 3,841,335
188o 129,207 6,690,912
1881 253,596 8,320,315
1882 449,513 8,377,200
1883 443,996 7,598,176
1884 367,816 8,712,315
1885 371,679 5,628,916
1886 332,822 7,915,660
1887 262,357 10,526,998
1888 322,356 10,473,329
1889 195,341 11,466,708
1890 202,853 12,180,482
1891 804,626 12,466,976
1892 1,096,587 12,354,420
1893 1,066,586 15,168,746
1894 566,267 4,844,809
1895 562,890 6,863,288
1896 113,888 6,598,527
1897 47,865 1,937,944
1898 2,517,759 4,438,030
1899 3,678,266 8,497,284
1900 3,891,226 7,890,945
1901 6,574,630 11,680,823
1902 6,154,853 12,732,670
1903 10,933,188 15,574,598
1904 8,776,418 10,028,452
1905 10,390,917 17,019,530
1906 10,579,654 24,282,897
1907 11,154,152 23,965438
1908 4,452,320 9,312,095
1909 4,761,166 19,313,585

FOR I0 MONTHS TO APRIL 30,

1910 8,936,112 25,594,018

The foregoing figures do not give an absolutely exact statement of the importations of diamond in all its forms, but it is very close to facts. The items are from data furnished by the customs authorities who tabulate the dutiable and nondutiable items without regard to the precise nature of the articles, and as there have been several changes in the tariff, the various kinds have been shifted and differently combined. Uncut diamonds of the jewel class were first specified by our customs in 1885. From 1890, ” rough ” includes miners, glaziers and engravers diamonds, and also jewels for watches and clocks up to 1897. Under the same heading all other uncut precious stones not specified, were included prior to 1895. Under ” Cut,” all precious stones including pearls, and imitation stones were included until 1897. (Imitation stones were included until 1899.) By that time the demand for pearls and what are termed ” fancy stones,” had grown to be an item of importance. The importations of that class amounted in 1897 to $686,789. Uncut diamonds for jewels were tabulated with ” cut ” during the operation of the Wilson tariff. Since 1897 ” cut ” stands for unset cut diamonds only.

The Wilson tariff was passed in 1894; the Dingley tariff in 1897. The amounts given during that interval do not represent all that were imported, but those only which came through the customs ; undoubtedly many were smuggled in. Nor do the amounts in value give an adequate idea of the comparative yearly quantities. So great has been the advance in price that the number of carats imported in 1888 was probably twice that of 1908.

Dust or bort has increased in addition, from $140 in 1869 to $447,575 in 1905. Since then the importations have declined as follows :

1906 $133,725
1907 189,121
1908 71,503
1909 $181,721 1910 (to mo. to April) 36,286

Prior to and since the Wilson tariff, rough diamonds were nondutiable and there was and is a duty of ten per cent. on unset cut diamonds. During the Wilson tariff the duty was ten per cent. on rough, and twenty-five per cent. on cut diamonds.


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