Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1884-02-07
ONE WoMAEs JEWELS.
A Milli9n Dollars i'm Ornamentw-Tha
S3O0,O0O Set OF SappRiress

~'sSo' Oce"" SsJss IeCeutly Qdu the
pleasure of examining one of the finest
collections of jewels outside of royal
treasury that exists IN Europe, and which
belongs to an American lady, Mrs. ]. W.
Mackey. Many of the stones are unique,
and the ornaments in general are char
acterized as much by the artistic beauty
Of their workmanship as by the splendor
of the gems. Foremost in the collection
shows resplendent the famous set Of sap
phires which attracted so much attention
when exhibited by the jeweler Boucheron
at the Paris Universal exhibition of 1878.
1t is valued at $500, 600, and comprises
the diadem, bracelets, ring, earrings and
necklace, with large pendant. The
necklace is double, the upper row being
q band Of large, square diamonds and
sapPhires, fitting the throat closely, while
the lower row, wide arabesoue Of the
same stones, supports the pendant. Tho
last is composed Of one enormous sap
phire, peerless in color and in water, and
set in large diamonds This STOKE is of
the size of a pigeons egg, cut transverse
ly, perfect oval in shape, and is valued
at $50, 900.
Next in beauty and in value come the
pearls, the set including the necklace,
bracelets and diadem. The necklace has
five rows, the pearls in the lowest row
being Of the size Of the largest buckle
berry, and those in the uppermost one
being bigger than a large pea. Each
pearl is perfect in color and in shape, the
strings having been composed with the
greatest care. The clasp is a sapphire set
in diamonds. The diadem is of an arab
esquc pattern in diamonds. surmounted
with five graduated pear-shaped pearls,
the central and largest one being an inch
and half in length The bracelets are
formed each Of five rows of pearls held
in place by narrow bands OF diamonds.
The set Of turquoises, like that Of sap
Phires, is unique in character, SO large
and fine in color are the gems whereof it
is composed. 1t includes the diadem,
bracelet, ring. necklace and heart-shaped
pendant, earrings and brooch, the latter
being Prince of Wales plume in dia-
mopds, held at the base with single
enormous turquoise. The necklace is pc
culiarly magnificent, being bread band
Of arabesques in diamonds, studded with
large turquoises. This set is said to sur
pass the parure Of the same stones be-
longing to the empress Of Russia, the
earrings being especially beautiful in
shape and hue. The parure of diamonds
is remarkable for its workmanship, the
broad arabesque-pattern necklace sus-
tanning a pendant shaped like a lotus
flower.
Another necklace is of Egyptian pat
tern, being composed of three rows of
pointed diamond leaves. For the hair
there is long garland Of small fern
leaves in diamonds, studded with dia-
mond dew-drops, most graceful and
poetic-looking ornament. It is also ar
ranged to be worn as a necklace, or to
ornament the corsage of ball-dress. A
broad collar-shaped ornament in dia-
monds, bordered with large single stones,
can be worn either as a necklace or a
diadem. The broach is large cluster
of slender willow-leaves. The bracelet
is diamond serpent, that encircles the
arm above the elbow five times; it is
formed of single row Of very large
diamonds, 300 in number. The ear rings
and ring are very fine solitaires. A pair
Of wide-band bracelets, composed Of
diamonds and sapphires, go with this
set.
In black pearls Mrs Mackey possesses
necklace and pair of earrings, the lat
ter being composed each ofa single round
pearl as large as cherry, and she ownsa
pair of white pearls of similar size and
beauty, and pair Of large pink oval
pearls. Three fine rubies are set, two
as earrings, and the third as ring.
The set Of pink coral is remarkable
even amid its brilliant surroundings.
The coral is of the palest and most deli
cate rose tinge, and is cut in oval bean
shaped pieces, which are linked together
with small diamonds. It is very large,
comprising full suite of ornaments. A
parure in antique 6ligree, set with cats
eyes and small diamonds, is noticeable
for its artistic workmanship. Among the
minor ornaments are brooch, represent
ing peacock, standing On globe Of
polished pink coral, the plumage Of the
birds outspread tail being composed of
diamonds, sapphires, and emeralds; an
eagle with extended wings in diamonds,
a slender diamond serpent with large
pear-shaped black pearl pendant from its
mouth (this ornament is to be worn as a
necklace), and other beautiful and artis-
tic jewels The sapphire set has been
photographed at NJ Boucheron's request,
and an engraving Of it viii figure in
work that is shortly to be published in
Paris, entitled ''The Famous Jewels Of
Europe These treasures are not kept
in the hotel of Mrs. Mackey, as they
would constitute far too potent attrac-
ton for burglars, but are deposited in the
bank. They are enclosed in small
chest of metal closed with secret spring.
The interior of this chest is lined with
red velvet, and is divided into three com
partments, each fitted with series Of
numbered trays. have never heard the
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