Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-11-27
Initiation JeUeIry.

| Some of the limitations are admirable,
IL must be owned. A gold watch case,
eighteen carats fine, costs fifty dollars
another. fourteen Carats fine, can be-
bought for half the money; and third
| four carats fine for ten dollars; and
nothing but comparison reveals any
difference between the three To inexpc-
ricnccd eyes. Bracelets in gold plate
finished in dozen different ways, bur
nishod, irctted, or faceted. cost less than
those Of real tortoise shell, and would
deceive anybody when worn. Lace
pins, cuff pins, rings and earrings ARE
made mt Attlchoro: in Providence. and
New \ Iork. in the same patterns used by
the best jewellers, and, although not 50
well finished in minor detail, have no
impcrlcctions that can reveal them
selves to ordinary inspection. Until
very latoly it was impossible to make
the variegated leaves used on lace in any
thing but good gold, but they are now
produced in cheap alloys, and L method
has been discovered for applying enamel
to inferior gold.
In many eases, the stones used in the
cheap sets are real; fine mosaics, anne
thysts of great clemncss, and excellent
onyNcs being set in gold of quality 80
poor that Il whole set costs very little.
In other cases, even the stones are false.
and one can buy aset of what seem to be
initial onyx sleeve buttons set in gold, for
less than il would cost 10 cut the stones
if they were real. Second quality onyx,
having the upper layer of uneven thick
ness is used IN SO Bc Of the cheap seals.
and in others blood stone is placed on
one SIDE and a bit of glass on the other.
The seller who means to cheat is cnthu-
siastir over the beauties of the real
blood stone. and the innocent buyer docs
not think to ask about the glass. Still
another deceit is seen in large seals of
pressed glass, apparently cut deliberately.
but really representing no more work
than Il pressed glass tumblcr; II micro
scope would bctray the cheat at once,
hut ordinary buyers do not go about
armed with microscopes. and do not
wish To be Obliged to do so. Diamond
pins with solid backs are Of doubtful
perfection always. but some of the new
pins have n pit OF silver foil set behind
the fragment of glittcring glass that
serves for a stone and are more dcccp-
tive than the dull stones worn by some
men who seem 20 think that they will
be respected II they appear to have spent
three years salary on AN ornament.
AS has been said, there is no way ot
distinguishing between good and cheap
icwclry when worn. but there are few
details To which buyers should look
sharply. unless they have perfect conf
dcncc in the house with which they are
dealing. Watch cases usually have the
name Of the firm selling them engrnycn
on the inside. unless they are of poor
quality. Good bracelets are rs well Il.
ished close To the hir ycs rs anywhere
else. Fine brooches have good strong
pins on the wrong side. Engraved or
fooled surfaces are more deeply indcnt-
ed in gold Icwclry than in that which is
plated, and FURNISHED surfaces on cheap
goods are likely TO bc scratched. because
they are more carclcssiy kept than those
which are more expensive. There is a
very slight difference in The color of the
two classes of jcwclry. but 1t only re-
"eals itself on comparison. Large size
is n danger signal in earrings, and false
diamonds ought to warn anybody from
buying hy their setting.
The demand for the cheap jcwelry in
crcascS almost daily. many Of the new
styles being so fantastic that even those
who are determined to wear them hcsi-
tate about paying much for them. pur-
chase them i'm cheap materials and throw
them away when tarnishcd. This course
is expensive but if a man or woman can
afford it nobody Is injured by except
the person who yields to the desire 10 AS
sume the appearance Of wealth that hr
has not. But nobody wants to be cheat
ed, and he who buys cheap jcwclry of ir.
responsible persons Is tolerably sure e.
waste his money.-Boston Transcript.