Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1879-11-12
Diamond Trade.

Lucy Hamilton Hooper, in her Paris
letter to the Philadelphia Evcntnq TcZeqraDh.
describes in good style and in an interestip o
way, some of the details OF the diamond
trade OF the world, which, she saws. is
manly controlled by some six or eight LARGE
operators. After speaking in her letter of
the courtesy shown her, and describinc
some OF the rare gems in the possession Of
the dealer visited, she has this to saw about
some that will gladden. the eyes of our citi.
Zens soon by being displayed in the cases of
Messrs Bailey, Banks & Bidde. our enter.
prising Chestnut street firm:
:" lie then brought out and nut before mo
box in size and shape not unlike those in
winch stockings are sold From this he
took a number of small cases to show mo
some unusually fine matched stones. and
also yellow diamond of wonderful beauty
;" fuil OF lustrP that it shone like dron of
golden fire or a consolidated sunbeam
/ ien closing the box, he remarked that if
mad been packed for transmission to the
nlted States, and that it contained the
finest assortment of diamonds that he had
OF late years transmitted to that country
inquired with interest respecting its dcsti-
nation, and was pleased to learn that il was
gong to Philadelphia, that small box.
whose contents were worth more thousands
IMAM am willing to state, representing
TINS season S purchases of Mr.. Joseph Bailey.
Tor the firm of Messrs Bailey. Banks &
BIddle, OF Philadelphia. He also told me
tnat never IN the history Of the trade had
diamonds been as cheap as they are at
present, the depressed condition of com.
ihFrciai matters in America, the Russian
ana lurklsh wars, the disturbed political
state OF Russia, ect., having combined to
lessen the number Of purchasers, while the
diamond discoveries at the Cape had flooded
the market. And it is a mistake, madam"
ne said, " to imagine that the African dia.
monds are stones Of an inferior value to
tnose that come from India and Brazil. |
We get as fine gems from the Cape as from
either OF the latter countries, and no house
OF our standing will deal in anv but the
very best stones but of course number Of
lIl-shaped, tiawed, and discolorcd diamonds
are found, which meet with a ready sale ot
very low prices" asked him if the
present unprecedented cheapnpss would he
OF long continuance. and he replied that
there would probably be reaction in. the
cours" OF few months. as already tho
demand for tirSt.clasS stones was LARGELY
increasing, while the find at the Cane |
was hy no means being kept up in the same
ratio. Hence | would advise all my com.
patriots who wish to purchase diamonds to
Go SO with as little delay as possible, while
those who wish to sell had best keep quite |
for time. The fire-proof in which the
stock Of the house was kept contains, am
told. precious stones to the amount of |
S2'0OO,O0O. have not space to tell of the |
artistic surprises reserved by Messrs. Bailey, |
Banks n Biddle for the public of Philadel |
phia this season, SO will content myself |
with declaring that | have never seen so |
varied collection of objects of such artistic |
beauty at such remarkable moderate
prices"