The Irish standard., 1886-09-11
FASHIONABLE GEMS.
Tho Opal Likely to Come to the Front.
Moonstones and Garnets.

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DIoonstones and Garnets.
The moonstone furore seems to be
at its height. At least there is a large
stock of moonstone jewelry in the
cases of both retail and wholesale
houses. The moonstones are set now
both in gold and silver, and in many
! cases value as we'll as effect is added By
the association of rose diamonds. The
moonstone faces continue popular, and
are both fanciful and grotesque. Then
there is full line Of neck and scarf
pins in the form of three or four clover
leaf patterns. Often the stones set in
/ frequent occurrence in cuff buttons for
both sexes, and are popular in studs
for gentlemen wear. The stones have
also appeared on charms for queen
chains. There is a tendency now to
employ the finest specimens of MOON
stones without either carving or tint
ing, but depending only upon the
chQtoyn7lt reflection Of the stone, and a
unique setting for effect. Little balls
set in claws show off the moonstone
en- 2zaturel to better effect than perhaps
does any other form.
/. There is good authority for stating
that the opal-a magnificent gem too
long neglected because Of the foolish
superstition of late years associated
with it's growing in favor abroad and
is likely to come to the front here. As
the opal is the only precious stone
which defies imitation, and fine speci-
mems are OF rare occurrence, there ap-
pears no good reason why opals should
not recover the high favor they held
previous to the publication OF Sir
Water Scott's novel, "Anne of Geier-
stein,' in which romance is ascribed to
this stone Il supernatural power to
bring bad luck. Previous to the ap-
pearance of this fiction the opal en-
joyed it's original character of being a
love stone and suitable for betrothal
gage.
The opal is usually associated with
diamonds, but other combinations are
sometimes made. Anew bracelet seen
was wire one with overlapping ends;
fine opal was set in one and a choice
sapphire in the other. The result was
8 very pleasing one. A ring seen was
set with 81 rare opal encircled with
small diamonds. A. cluster scarf pin
of recent manufacture had an opal in
the center set round with diamonds.
The garnet, while by no means q
valuable stone, is always more OF less
employed in jewelry Oh account Of its
brilliant color and hardness. There
has been all effort of late to popularize
this stone, and some very pretty effects
have beer gained in such ornaments as
hair-pins and necklaces; ornaments tc
be worn at night, when the garnet is
most effective. The garnet is being
employed, too, in iewelry for misses
and children, and affords change
from the turquoise, which is much used
for the same purpose. During the past
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round pins in light open-work pat
terms and set with garnets In illus.
tration may be cited circular brooch
made up of innumerable windings in
and out of gold rope and wire, thickly
studded with small but brilliantly-h -hued
garnets. There are also examples te
be seen of 1noonstones set round will
garnets. These last afford a. showJ
ornament at small cost, and meet tht
demands of popular trade, but arc
hardly in as good taste as are ths
moonstones set round with rose dia
,monds, for two moderately -pricec
stones when brought together are lis
bic to cheaper each other.
!. AS with all other stones, there are
many varieties of garnet which art
distinguishable by their color and also
T by the difference Of their chemica
, composition. The varieties used ir
jewelry are known as carbuncle, Gin
namon stone, almandine and Bohe
imian garnet When cut en- cobochon
!; so as to assume a raised oblong shape
it is termed carbuncle, and, if Of fail
size and pure color, is, comparatively
speaking. valuable. The variety
known as cinnamon stone, as the
name implies. is Of reddish-yelloN
tint, resem bling somewhat the color o
cinnamon. These stones come from
Ceylon, principally, and are often solo
as hyacinths or jacinths, from which
however, they differ in many impor
tant particulars. The almandine il
frequently cut in facets aud polished
Set with back and foiled to initiate 6
ruby, the almandine often passes for {
ruby among the uninitiated. This
Bohemian garnet is found in Bohemia
Saxony and other parts of Germany
its color is deep red, and it is one O
the hardest OF the garnet family. The
superstitious and magical properties
attributed to the garnet in ancient
times were similar to those ascribed te
the ruby. .-Jewelers' Circular.
Careful Station M aSfer.