The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-10
FORTUNES IN DIAMONDS.
Millions of Dollars Worth of Gems on the
Fair Ladies' of New York City.

Millions of Dollars Worth of Gems on the
Fair Ladies' of New York City.
New York World.
This" said a well-known Broadway dealer
in diamonds, sis one of the greatest diamond
cities in the world. | was present at the
opera opening Of the Metropolitan and at
the very lowest estimate l saw at least
81, 900, 900 worth OF diamonds in the audience,
There was one lady alone who had nearly
$40 900 worth on her person. She wore a
black velvet eorsage cut low and along it's
upper edge had ..s many as thirty-five pieces
of jewelry. There were lace-pins, breast
pins brooches and many pieces of fantastic
design. put there for the mere purpose of
display and making the woman look ridic-
ulous notwithstanding the vast wealth
represented in the collection for many of
the pieces held costly sapphres, and all the
briliants were very large and very clear in
their colors. Mrs. Vanderbilt wore ON that
occasion a laee-pin nearly six inches long
set with huge diamonds and large sapphres
1t must have been worth at least 500 900
Other ladies | might name were adorned
with equal lavishness"
1.-THE ladies of New York seem to be we'll
supplied with diamonds2'i
There are probably two hundred of them
who have $4,000 worth of personal jewelry.
l can name ten like Mrs. Vanderbilt and
Mrs. Gould whose individual property in
diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds
exceeds 100000. More than forty New
York ladies can each lay claim to $50, 900
worth of jewelry, and plenty of them have
$25, 900 invested You can see how readily
a woman of great wealth can accumulate
gems when | tell you that Vanderbilt's
Christmas bill at Tiffanys last year was
$42 900. | saw the check for that amount
drawn by the millionaire in favor of the
jeweler."
What pieces are most frequently asked
for?''
"Hair and neck ornaments. Ten and
twelve carat earrings, ranging in price from
5000 to 81, 900 per pair, are common pur-
chases. l have seen hair ornaments worn
that were worth fully So, 900. Diamond neck
laces are always in demand, and are never
too costly for purchasers. Finger-rings are
not cared for much, because fashion insists
on the wearing of gloves, and these hide the
jewels. woman, you know, wants to show
everything. Bracelets are worn not in one
or two pairs, but sometimes there are as
many as six, one above the other, on one
arm. Sometimes lady who has enough
gems to FIT out a firSt-cass store will come
in and invest from $500 to ST. 600 in an orna-
ment for special occasion. All who can
afford it not only want new dresses, but new
jewelry for such an event as the Patriarchs 4"
Are there many diamonds among the
middle class?'
mot many. The average professional
man in New York can hardly get along on
his income and has little money to invest in
jewery for himself or wife. A $500 pair of
earrings, small lace pin or nice solitaire
ring is all the wife of a professional man
can hope to possess, and very few of them
get that"
How about theatrical people?"
'They do not buy much in New York
They take to diamonds only when they have
plenty of money, which they generally
make in the West, Their diamond invest
ments are made with the dealers there"
"And hotel clerks and negro minstrels?'
''They are satisfied with single big dia-
mond for the shirt front. and as they do not
care about color or perfection in stone,
when they once have a yellow pebble with a
perceptble flaw in it they patronize the
dealer no more, and are forever happy.