The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-01-04
FORTUNES IN DIAMONDS.
Millions of Dollars Worth of Gems on Fair
Ladies'.
Neic York World.

| . Nec York World.
"This," said a well known Broadwa,
dealer In diamonds, .'is one of The greates
diamond cities in the world. was present
at the opera opening of the MetropolltA an
and at the very lowest estimate, l saw al
least 100000 worth of diamonds in the
audience. There was one lady alone who
had nearly s4O,0 900 worth on her person. She
wore black velvet corssge, cut lows aud
slong its upper edge had many as tilsty-
I've pieces Of iewelry. Thee were lace pins,
bfeastpins, brooches, and many pieces Of
fantastic design, put there for the mere pur-
pose of display and making the woman look
ridiculous, notwithstanding the vast wealth
represented in the collection, for many of
the pieces held costly sapphires, and all the
briliiants were very large and very clear in
their colors. Mrs. Vanderbilt wore on that
occasion lace-pin nearly six inches long,
set with huge diamonds and large sapphires.
IL must have been worth at least $4,000.
| Other ladies ] might name were adorned
with equal lavishness."
"The ladies of New York seem to be we'll
supplied with diamonds? ?"
"There are probably 200 of them who have
$4,000 worth of personal jewelry. 1 can
name ten, like Mrs. Vanderbilt and Mrs.
Gould, whose individual property in dia-
nonds, sapphires. rubies and emeralds ex-
ceeds 100000. More than forty New York
ladies can each lay claim to 0,OO0 worth of
jewelry, and plenty Of them have S25, 900
invested. You can see how readily wo-
man Of great wealth can accumulate gems
when tell you that Vanderbilt's Christmas
bill at Tifany's last year was 81, 200. Isaw
the check fer that amount drawn by the mil
lionaire In favor of the jeweler."
"What pieces are most frequently asked
fof?"
"Hair and neck ornaments. Ten and
twelve carat earrings, ranging in price from
5000 to 5000 pair, are common purchases.
have seen hair ornaments worn that were
worth fully $4,000. Diamond necklaces 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.
A woman, you know, wants to show every.
thing. 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 frst-class store, will come in and
invest from $500 to $1,000 in an ornament
for a special OCCASION. All who can af-
ford It,, not only want new dresses, but new
twslry for such an event as the Patri-
areys." ...--.s..-s .....ss.a.-..---I
"Are there many diamonds among the
middle CLASP"
mot many. The average professional |
man In New York can barely get along on
his income, and has little money to invest In
jewelry for himself or wife. $500 pair of |
ear rings, small lace pin or a nice solitaire
ring is all the wife of professional man can
hope to possess, and very few of them can
get that"
"How about theatrical people?"
"They DO not buy much In New York.
They take to diamonds when they have
plenty of money, which they generally make
in the west. Their diamond investments
are generally made with the dealers there"
"And hotel clerks and negro minstrels ?"
"They are satisfied with a single big dia-
mond for the shirt front, aud as they do not
;are about color or perfection in a stone,
when they once have a yellow pebble with
! perceptible flaw in 1t, they pat ronize the
iealer no more, and are forever afterwards
happy"