Saga Crossword December.

[patsyann]

I have completed the Crossword but although I think I have solved 13ac am not sure about the reasoning and would appreciate a 2nd opinion.

13ac.Make soundings to check diamonds quality.(4,3,5).I have got test the water thinking that another name for diamonds is ice and the water is being tested for safety to walk on?Any other ideas?

The letters I have are T-s- t-e -a-e-

[biley]

You are correct with your answer, patsyann.

water, noun ...........; transparency, lustre, eg of a diamond;

[patsyann]

Thank you biley.

[crofter]

Well done biley and patsyann. I have never seen this interpretation of "Water" before. When I suggested "test the stone" (earlier posting) it was only a suggestion and I did not have the benefit of the letters -a-e- as a guide.

[biley]

To be honest, crofter, I had never seen one definition of water to mean this either. Quite surprised when I found it in Chambers dictionary. Don't think we will ever forget it, now we know it!

[mohill]

I can remember my grandmother, who died before 1950, speaking of one of her rings as having 'a diamond of the first water' This question revived the memory and I have a feeling the term is not used much these days

[danube]

Diamond of the first water - A specially fine diamond, one of the greatest value for its size (the colour or lustre of a diamond is called its 'water'). Thus we speak of a 'genius of the first water' meaning a very great genius.

[patsyann]

I would like to thank all of you for an interesting discussion on the connection of water to diamonds.I think we have all learned something from a clue in the Saga Crossword.It has certainly given us a topic to share.Great fun.