The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-11-07
PEARLS, DIAMONDS AND RUBIES.
AN ALLURING DESCRIPTION OF SUPERB GEMS BY AN
APPRECIATIvE LADY.

| AN ALLURING DESCRIPTION OF SUPERB GEMS BY AN
| APPRECIATIvE LADY.
ILucy H. Hooper's Paris Letter to the Philadel-
phia Telegraph
| The other day, in pursu ance OF my intention OF
looking up those leading houses in Paris that ID
tend to exhibit at our Centennial, paid VISIT to
the splendid iewelry establishment of NJ. Bou-
| cherou. in the Palais Royal have already men
toned in your columns the opinion OF the great
painter MISSIONER respecting this house
namely. that it was the most artistic establish
ment of its kind in Paris; Iruy. the oisplay aiaS
1 Witnessed yesterday fully confirmed the opinion
of the celebrated artist. Such dencacy OF work
manship, such lacework in gold and silver, such
delicate enamels, and such carefully CHOSEN
pearls and precious stones, had never DelorS oe
lighted my gaze.
One of the first things that was exhibited to
me was rose with buds and foliage all OF the
size of nature, all of diamond, and adapted to
be worn in the Lair. Every pet4l III the mower
and every leaf and bud on the stalk were mounted
on slender steel springs, that the whole had
the elastic grace and mobility of nature, and yet
every part was perfectly rong. coronet OF
diamond wheat-ears, mounted in the same way,
| was also shown, IS well as an exquisite pansy
and delicate spray of seed grass all of diamonds
| and all intended for the hair. specimens OF the
| new transparent enam i were next brought forth
Tnis enamel is no. laid on gold as III the ordinary
| STYLE, but is set III tiny aques IN light Frame
| work of gold so as to give the effect, when the
hight is shining through it, OF miniature stained
| glass window.
The colors are the most vivid hues of ruby,
emerald and sapphire, so that the effeci Is ex.
tremely rich As enamel is a liquid before it is
submitted to The action OF fire, it will be seen how
difficult it must be to produce 1t in this transpar-
| ent form The new invention Is particularly
| suited for earrings, as IN such ornaments III
| light has an opportunity OF shining through and
| showing off the vivid tints Of the enamel. The
ornaments decorated by this new and difficult
process are extremely costly. l was shown tiny
bonbonnlere of most exquisite workmanship III
this style, which is valued at Sl6O0. new lnFen-
| ton in earrings was next displayed. Each ear
| ring represents . c)rd drawn up in the middle
in single loop, and with two long ends OF uLe-
quail length; the cord is composed OF small square
| diamonds and is finished at each end with
| single pear -haped diamond OF great beauty.
| small screw passes through the hole IN the
wearer's ear, aud when the ornament Is aclusted
| the effect is produced OF a cord OF diamonds
drawn through the ear. Four thousand dollars
was asked for this novel and splendid trinket.
| Next was called upon to admire gorgeous but
| tasteful and most extravagant adornment for q
llady's arm. For year or two past the Only
| bracelets in vogue among Partisan fashlonaoles
have been the slender porte bonteou. circlets,
scarce broader than thread, CT which SIX or
| seven are to be worn on one arm III Oriental
fashion. Before me, therefore, was aced set
| of these slender bracelets which had just been
| prepared for young Russian couGtess. There
were seven Of them, each one set with single
pearl or precious sto e, sufmounted with dla-
monds, comprising black perl, pink one a
while one, an emerald, sapphire, ruby, and a
diamond.
A delicate arm thus adorned would be dazzling
to behold More artistic and more really grace.
full was q bracelet composed OF i've strings OF
pearls of graduated lengths. the largest being
quite long enough to serve FOR necklace, While
the sht rtest just Of a sufficient length to
drop gracefully from the arm. To the inside OF
the clap, which was Of diamonds, slight but
strong gold circlet was affixed, which, fitting the
| arm closely, permitted the strings OF pearls to
hang loose in most picturesque fashion A
locket, composed of single black pearl as large
as a good-sized cherry, and surmounted with
great pure diamonds, next claimed my attention,
as did also bracelet, locket and earrings, all of
the choicest amends as res ards size and water.
The parure, more gorgeous il less aesthetic
than those | have been exa mining up to that
time, was valued at Sc, 00J But the greatest
marvel Of artistic workmanship was taxa OF
oxldzed SILVER, enameled after the style OF Lii
moges euamels. The bottom of the cup was
occu1iad by a scene representing knight on
horseback accosted by a nude nymph with a
flame upon her brow-the beguiling Will-othe-
Wisp. The border was wrought in a licate
arabesque of flowers and vines, and was further
decorated with satyrs' heads in enamel This
marvel of workmanship was gotten up for the
Viennese Exhibition, and it is now destined for
ours. 1t is valued at $500.
can not enuInerate the half of the exquisite
articles that were displayed tefore me perfectly
matched pear shaped pink pearls, like pa rified
rosebuds; an oval antique diamond, once an
heirloom in a noble house, with a faint, rosy
tlnge flashing its spl ndor; brown diamond,
unique in tint; paper cutter of gold, 18th the
handle set with diamond foliage gold opera
glass, starred with diamonds and trimmed with
pearls and other costly toys without number.
Last of sill the diadem now in preparation for
the Centennial brought out and placed be-
fore me. 1t was ordered by an Austrian princess,
who had kindly loaned it to NJ. Boucneron for
exhibition.
1t is entirely composed of rubies and diamonds,
each stone having been selected with peculiar
care. 1t consists Of band Of rubies and dia-
monds, above which rises row Of feurons
formed each Of large ruby set in diamonds, and
alter mating with single large. pear shaped dia-
monds of the finest water. Right in front the
diadem rises in feur-de-lys shaped ornament,
which may be detached and worn as q brooch, a
smaller one taking its place in that case. The
center stone of this ornament is almost unique in
commerce it is an immense ruby Of glowing
fre-red hue, far purer than the ordinary blush
red of rubies in general. Were it not for milky
stain that crosses this superb gem, it alone would
be worth 100000 The whole value of this regal
coronet was $40 000