The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-09-24
DIAMOND SELLING.
How the Trade In Precious Stones has been
Affected by Arnbi aud Oscar Wilde.


"That man looked like a buyer, yet you
let him go out without the least attempt to
increase his inclination to purchase"
The dealer smiled. Diamond selling" said
he. has its peculiarites. Most men do not
buy stones more than once or twice in life
time. They would think less Of buying 5000
worth of furniture than $50 gem. Often tho
buying OF fine diamond scarf pin has been II
mans ambition for years. We can tell these
people at a glance almost. 1t is very difficult
thing to talk u man into buying u stone. You
must gain his respect. make few remarks. and
refrain from pushing him. Now. that man Is
likely to return"
But you did not oven show him those fine
gems it might have had a good effect
THAT is another point in the business" said
the dealer and an important one. You must
weigh up your customer us well us you can be-
fore you show him anything. You want to find
out what quality he wants and about what he
is willing to pay Some men are satisfied If
what they buy is diamond To them all dia-
monds are simply diamonds. They do not
have any particular desire for Are. purity of
color or cut. So we show them tray Of stones
which are large for their price and are good
diamonds but DO not rank rs gems. because
they have not that splendid brilliancy which is
the highest quality Of n stone and which fixes
its value If l had shown that man the fine
gems you speak Of whose price Is wholly be-
You'd his limit. he could not have failed to per-
ceivc, however ignorant he may be o. dln-
mUnds that they far surpassed those which ne
could AFFORD to huy. Then we would be certain
to lose customer. As 1t IS. he IL very likely To
return. and. If he does. the chances are that We
will be ablc to make u decker
Here is ruby. 1t is very nicely cut: the
color is rich and clear. Any dealer would call
i good stone. II weighs carat and nall.
Now contrast it with this superb spark. which
4t4-tIl
is otherwise, YOU would be surprised az the
rare and beautiful as Il perfect ruby. Those
from three carats upward are almost price
ing three, carats. which he holds ut
$4,000. To say that z stone, is price.
less is of course little indefinite Unite It
that, owing to its extreme rarity, it has no as
certained value. The dealer puts upon ita
nous. Exceptionally fine, stones are worth to
any dealer precisely what he can get for them.
Even ,experlen,ceI diamond dealers often di-
dunn grades. The state Of his mind.
or even Of his st99m|aGn will often make
expert in gems Is willing to pay for Il stone.
One OF them told me not long since that he had
With VII H 4p oared I'm at isdo and wfich
rival had purchased an hour aiterward ut
that figure and had Placed before iundoYn at
u severe attack of rheumatism the night be;
fore. and went to business in ILL humor and
monds must not only have his eyes wide open
and his Judgment clear, but must have conf
dence in himself. l have seen groups OF ex.
could not be induced to make fair bid on
really, good thing. In one Of these cases
clear-headcd dealer stepped out of the crowd.
made fair bid. and gem was knocked down
TO him at 500. which he sold to another dealer
on the same day for $3.50
No; an ofl-color diamond. as you call IT, is
not necessarily less valuable than white
diamond of the same size and fire. Green
to purity ana depth Of color While having at
saw but one OF them myself Some of the best
are said to be- in the celebrated jewel vaults of
Dresden: Others, may be seen in Freiburs:
rare. and belong TO the class en- ed priceless.
This one is considerably under three-lqarters
il were of this same quality and weighed
5 or 10 carntss. then. Young maxwell, the
It is said that Tiffany sold one shor; time ago
for S3O,UUO-s 900 carat. But perhaps the
b@s rare ana e sar W t al ba are
seeing that superb stone called the Hope dia.
mond. weighing Al: carats. Al. that Is soli-
taire, indeed; SpeakinE OF solItares il Is Gu:
the fashion when such fine effects may be OBJ
aimed from the tasteful setting Of Il cluster.
Here are some line cluster rings: yet / have
not sold one for two years. The cry among the
iashlondhlcS t. Il solitaire or nothing.
les. the aesthetic craze Affects our business
to some degree IL has had the effect Of bring
ing once more into prominence stones Of an
odd character. or which had been out of style
for years Carbuncles for instance. have be-
come very fashionable of late because Mr..
Wilde Wore one OF them ut u lecture. Here is a
very fine one which | have have had several
years. 1t Wi. easily bring me- now four times as
much rs | could have sold il for four months
ago. CairnCorm stones, such rs the Scottish
chiefs used 10 wear in hiltS of their claymorns
are also coming in again. Just now, I.yptiau
Jewelry is. of course fashionable among
caprices OF the moment. Here is a pretty
topa2-that is, topu2 which is clear at its cir
with heavy smoke. Adyantu&c is taken of the
it into Il dun and dusky head-tEat Of Isis or
n fine contrast With the clear violet shade OF
tie stone rs ordinarily seen. The depending
bands, YOU observe. rs also those crossing The
head and falling over the forehead, are eXqui-
sitely ornamented with stripes continuing alter
nate layers of small diamonds and rubtcs. 1t
Is an odd and str ing piece OF Jcw"lry. but that
Is an advantage in these days when the antique
III everything seems t. he so much valued
merely for it, own sake. Those delicate lines
bordering the bands are Of genuine buhl work.
The gem i actud.!y lnllid with solid gold. II
i worth sl75 now. bUt when Egypt becomes no
longer a fas hiUnahle drawing room topic deal
crs will buy II in tor $50 or $40.