, 1873-06-29
METROPOLITAN NODES.
levels and Observation-Disclosures,
Rubics, and sapphires--- 5
Pearls and EmeraIdS.
aold-Work in This Country and
Abroad--Braeelets and Crys-
tai Decorations,
Exquisite Cameos--.Guido's Au-
rora in Onyx.
From Dty Qtcn Correspondent.

rora in Onyx.
From Dny Otcn Correspondent.
NEW ToBK, June 26, 1878.
This is fit weather to write Of jewels; for the
Weather is royal, aud royalty and jewels are in
separable,-except where some poor wretch Of a
trince, whoao patrimonial acres are less in mum
ser than his pkt1;monial diamonds, is forced to
tell the latter to save the former from ignornini
sus forfeiture. For my own part, don't know
sut should let the acres go and save the dis
nonds. we're the difficulty mine; especially il
The jewels we're like some have seen lately.
DIAMONDS
Ire cheap now do you know it !? At least they
seu me so, and then have the assurance tosay,
Of spark Of fire On my finger, which blazed
ike the eye Of Al Olympian god, that
tts price WAS $500 gold; adding, consolingly,
that, year ago, it WAS rated at s5,oo0 On the
whole, it was rather disappointing to learn that
its narke:-va1u had decreased SO much since,
rs regarded buying it. I might as well have taken
It ut the highest rs at the lowest sum. The
cause Of the depression in these precious stones
is the influx Of African gems, which, during the
psst Two years, have nearly Bwamped the Indian
and Brazilian stones. Nobody need be dissatis-
fed with Cape Town jewel, however. Many Of
them are very beautiful, though none Of purest
water; which, to the wise, meaus that they are
ell slightly tinged with color. superb speci-
men of this description was 60 clear aud so pale
that it's tint WAS undiscoverable until it lay BE-
side an Old Mine stone. Then it looked Us if
1ny of moonlight had suddenly fallen
On it, in that it WAS simply not colorless. For
this superb thing, .as large as q cherry-plt, was
asked only s2,10o gold {the prices are all gold)'
though il was twice the size OF tho S, 500 gem,
and in my opinion, handsomer. Diamonds
sohtaires-can be had from ESQ to any amount
one ia willing to pay for them. Just at present,
diamonds are neither the dearest nor the most
fashionable OF gems, s,-rubies being their supe-
riors in cost aud sapphifes in mode.
Tho passion for
has somewhat ahated, On the principle that in
crease Of appetite grows By what it feeds on,-
there having been little food recently for the ruby
kppetite to grow upon. Indeed, line specimens
are not to be Ind at any price, unless one is
obtained occasionally by private purchase. The
supply seems entirely exhausted, for come un-
known reason; though it is popular1y beloved
that th Shah Of Persia decornteA himself daily.
On his grand European tour, with the contents
OF tho mines of the East It is fortunate FOR
the buyer that rubics arc not fashionable, when
their value carat for carat, is go much in advance
Of diamonds.
sre !" the thing" at this moment, and some per-
feet ones are now On exhibition. An unset sap
phire-so deeply, intensely blue that holding it
to the window for the sun to stream through
Paled it's color-is $1,50o-more than
forty times its weight in gold: This is very
rtr ct,of,1 f1nf IVA
the owners are in no haste to part with it,
since it might be years before it could
be 1eplaced- sapphires set in diamonds,
and combined with them in vaIious
not long remain such, since their hue is too dark
to be very becoming to either blondes or bru-
nettes. And what woman would wear the Even
ina-Star, il it were unbecomiEg?
PEARLS AND EMERALDs
always in style. and the sale Of the latter is
more even, and the price less liable to finctua-
ttons, than that OF any other gem: Their rate ia
about the present rate OF diamonds and pearls.
Ono Of the finest, il not the finest, OF pearl
necklaces M eyer IN t. this country, is here now.
shape and color, and Identical in size
They are strung bead-like on silk threads,
aud there are two rows half round
the neck, where they are caught together by
three small diamonds The value OF this trinket
is 81 00,-enough, one would Say. for go tiny q
haubIe. Another similar necklace was Of smaller
pearls, md had 8 diamond and pearl pendant.
This Was only e45 more than the other,-the
difference being in the size Of the penrls. The
lovely pear-shaped pearls are only naltcrna-
tions after al, and are simply used as drops to
brooches and earrings. Nevertheless, q largo
pear r-shaped pearl set with emaraIds O. die-
nonds is no gift to be dcepised, ma1for1nation
though it be. Tho stringing Of costly pearls on
8 Eikcn thread eoems positively inhuman to me. /
With their changing, -opahne tints, they seem |
Like some fair, young br1de, and to pierce one 1t
them is like stebbing her On her wedding-day
OpAL9,
by the by, suggestive Of translucent disnonds
II variations Of color, are in such ul-reputo for
La it not strange TINT anything SO exceptionally |
SO interesting a study il it's momenta-
r alterations, should bo among Enlightened peo-
pie the innocent victim Of aD absurd superstl- I
suthority ono Of tie head. of the jewelry busi-
oess in this country eAou1d scout the notion.
doxt-WORK.
It speaks well for the progress Of the mechani-
:al arts in this soantry that the finest and most
bout i}s Metropolis. For beauty Of do
,ign ara delicacy in execution, no foreign
,rud1,lion e1cels, and very few equal
t. The ehains-neck End watch-are the most
,,sutifui to be found,- light flexible, almost
hsins still have many admirers; but to fastidi-
as customers are offered curiously-wrought
haina Of red gold, especially made to wear With
eweled pendants. Gold ornaments are losing .
,eir popularity, thanks to French gilt and otheST
ever limitations Gold is not, On the whole, an
economical decoration; because, in its best
1alitiea and designs {and a.iso wants anything
:ss Of metal y it costs almost as much aa some
larming thing it. Eemi-precious stones, which
oes not decaive the eye, and cannot be success- :
lily initiated. Almost any woman OF society
ould rather wait two years for 1orely set Of !
'ral, OF topaz, Of garnet, or Of amber,
an huy, at tie, end OF ono year, 8
It of guild, and hnvo tho miserable :
ttisfaction Of seeing the sma!l-tr.dcsman's :
ife. at the street-ccrner, appear in one 30 .
early like ner oHn that q ca7elcsB eye might
,tect no difference. while abe inwa1dly knew It ,
bc q base counterfeit. !.
Bracelets are coming within reasonable t
'nnds, and aro no longer painfully suggestive t
mauacles and State Prison sentences. Inch 1
ID ha1f-irch bands for glo7e-bracelets, and +
ncy styles with leweled tops for full dress. arc
e favorite mode. A handsome pair Of bands !
sts from $50 up, though na1row ones, a triae T
s6e in design. are as low as $50. A beautiful
nseent Of tllia kind wns wrought in slender !
hbosquc, Of red gold, slim under the arm, I
rh, {ra hair. ~te1 :Ats L