Evening star., 1863-05-06
THE EVENING STAR.
THE DIAMOND MARKET.

The DIAMOND MARkET.
To procure the stock 10 supply tine demand
far diamonds elici.s and unusual amount OF
enterprise. For the frst time in many years
diamonds OF first water are not To be had in in
d d Ne quantity, WhilA the powers OF money
Are Gneq uiy eealiy great. there are times when
even money parts with It's usual omnipotenca
The commencement OF the prasent war found
diamonds abundant and comparatively cheap
As the trade, knows. however diamonds in
ps;nt Of value are only second 70 coin. If of
6rst water, free from defect, diamond OF y
given sizs represents At all times a correspond.
Ing equiya alens in coin.
A tour among our most extensive dealers in
And manufacturers OF lewelry now shows
minimum stock, from which all the best have
been culled, with great difficulty IN filling
sheir places, though prices have advanced
fsily seventy per cent. The duty Ii dd YGiorsps
ten per cent, but the cost Of eqchange brings
up the price. During the last three years the
demand for diamonds, we learn, has been
aniekened in the European capitals to a large
extent. They were cheaper during the Cri-
mean war than before or since Wealthy Turks
placed thousands OF them in the market, and
desire to realize upon long boarded geras seized
TIE minds OF Christians as we'll rs Musseimans.
Now matters are IN different position, and
diamonds are diamonds in the strictest inter-
yretarion OF the phrase. A new class Of pur-
chassrs have sprung up. People who two
years ago could not tell the difference between
tiara Of gems in purast ray serene and the
gingerbread affairs sported by queens in ira
gedy have OF late been the best customers to
yesterday by Chestnut street jeweler, is
worth telling.
"An Irishman, dressed In fine clothes, to g
very apparent discomfort entered the stc e.
His face was bronzed. his hands horny. lis
nose was unmitigated pug, and his teeth
we're ndclibly stained by second-class caven-
dish. A tailor had clothed him like n gentle
man 10 the manor born, but his garments were
An evident incumbrance.
81 want to look 1T some Gimoss, he said, as
he entered the doorway. A junior clerk
showed hlm to the ''dimon" counter. He here
repeated his request to 4 senior clerk The
latter took quick glance at his customer, and
made up his mind that the man had come to
the wrong place.
"You wish to see diamond jewelry!''
Ell do.''
The clerk produced a tray filed with imita-
tion gems, and submitted them for inspec ton.
The man fingered several of the articles
without speaking, and 8. silently laid them
down. "Thim isn't that I'm a1ther. l want
Ihe rale kind. Show me some him wild the
raie sparriklr.''
Thinking to get rid Of proftless customer
ihe clerk produced a velvet case, i'll which
posed, in gorgeous etfuIgencs, bracelet,
breastpin and ear rings, in the finest diamonds.
Chow do those suit you - asked the clerk.
The man looked at them. "Ah thimS the
beauties. What's the price o'thim -
"The set is seven thousand dollars" said the
clerk. preparing TO returu them to the case, not
dreaming of its purchase
"Ee ell, I'll take thim,'' was the quiet and
prompt reply.
The clerk was slightly astonished. In his
experience the purchase slightly exceeded all
former precedent.
Word was quietly passed to one Of the firm
that seven thouS and dollar customer was at
Ihe Diamond counter. and'th head OF the house
very briskly came forward. The result was
ihe further purchase Of single stone diamond
ring at eight hundred dollars. The purchaser
gave his check in payment for the lot. He was
detained, without know wing the fact, in an in
spection Of other goods, while one of the clerks
tn han tn lost he val 0F af,nr
but the clerk returned with the money and the
information that if drawn for five times the
amount II would have been as promptly hon
ored. Subsequent inquiry led tn the discovery
that the purchaser Of the diamonds in question
had accumulated money in following up the
army and purchasing its olfal for soap manu-
fscthring, at the same time ioaning money TO
Officers at usurious interest. and purchasing
claims of soldiers and others againstth govern
ment. The man, two years ago, was foreman
in a lard and tallow factory.
This incident, which is literally true. is an
illustration of the causes to which are at
sribu:atl!e the present prices Of gems. What is
trne OF diamonds is true, also, of pearls, opals
and emeralds. Rubies OF any size are out OF the
market. Even GarnetS, the cheapest of all the
The rest of the precious stones.
The transmutations caused in society by the
present war are singular. Many people, their
lite long accus toned 10 the possession of gems,
have parted with them forever. and many
Others HOW wear them who, two years ago,
knew net the difference between the finest dia-
monds and the CLASSY haubieS that glitter upon
tie nude arms of the ballet girls and danseuses
Of the concert tsaloons-Philodslphia Paper