Eastern times., 1855-03-08
Diamonds and Young America.

1t appears that there is no country in the
world where diamonds are in more request
than in these United States. The average
weekly sales of diamonds in single store
amount to sixteen hundred dollars-eighty-
three thousand two hundred dollars per annum.
This includes the mere diamonds, not the cost
of setting them, nor of the gold in which they
are set. The most expensive diamond ever
sold In this country was supplied by Messrs.
Tiffany Ellis, for six thousand dollars. Il
was bought by gentleman whom we are not
at liberty to name. The largest sale of dia-
monds ever made at one time TO one person for
private use was fifteen thousand dollars worth,
The most valuable necklace ever sold here
brought lhriy-ive hundred dollars; but a
pearl necklace was recently sold for ten
thousand. The largest diamonds are bought
by Califurnians the most tasteful pieces of
diamond jewelry, by Bostonians the greatest
quantity of diamonds, by New Workers.
Southerners are not particularly lavish in the
purchase of diamonds. The great source o
supply is not Golconda OF Brazil, but Paris
mostly sent to be Sold 1t is from the broken
up crowns and coronets OF Europe rirat Dung
America selects the gems with which he love.
to SET off his personal attractions.
In gratifying his passion for diamonds
Young America, true TO his character, has ar
eye 10 the main chance Diamonds, vel
bought, are pretty good investment They
will always bring their value, and the tenden-
cy of prices has been decidedly upward for al
least century diamond bought to-day for
hundred dollars is quite likely to be worth
one hundred and five dollars year hence
In lS4S, when Europe was convulsed, and
many families were impoverished. and more
were afraid they should be, so large quanti,
ty of diamonds was forced upon the market
that the price fell for time. Since, however
they have more than regained their value, F;
result attributable in part, no doubt, to The
gold discoveries Of California and Australia
which has not only increased the quantity 0
gold in the world, but added to the number o
damond-buyers. For, il appears, that whel
Young America has suddenly made fortune
one of the first things he does is to go and buy
big diamond for the bosom Of his shirt, ane
another for the bosom of his sweetheart.
| There seems to be no fixed rule for gradu
ating the price of diamonds. 1t depends par,
/ ly on the size, partly on the color, partly OF
the shape Of the gem. Four grains make on,
carat; an approximate average of price pait
for ,he diamonds sold in this country is eight
dollars per carat But in diamonds of the frs
water, :, e., absolutely colorless. the price
rises in greater proportion than The number 0
carats increases. Thus, if diamond Of TIVE
carats be worth three hundred dollars, dia
mond of three carats may be worth five hun
! dred, and one of four carats thousand
Costly as dismouds are, ruby of fine qualit
is worth more than its weight in diamonds
Rubies, it is said, are the fayorite gems a
present among persons who assume to b
masters in the high art of personal decoration
/ Young America, we are further informed
is very particular to have his diamonds real
There is ap article called pdste-glass with al
admixture Of lead-from which imitation d'a
monds are made, The best OF which are SC
brilliant, that none but professional eye car
detect the deception. These paste diamonds
are much worn in Europe, where there is {
! class who are obliged BY the necessities o
their position to be supposed to wear diamonds
in profusion Such persons find it convenien
sometimes to unlock that part of their capita
which is confined in diamond form, and appl,
it TO those exigencies from which the most ia
vored OF the human species are not Away
exempt. Paste comes in to supply the plac'
of the costly reality, and no one but the jew
eller is the wiser tor the change. But YounI
America, we are happy to know, when h