Wichita eagle., 1886-11-03
CHEAP JEWELRY.
NlNE-TENTHS OF THE WARE WORN
SAID TO BE NOT SOLID.

SAID TO BE NOT SOLID.
Brooklyn as D Center for the Trade
What Is Claimed for the Trip1e-PIated
The Glass Who Buy the Bogus-Mourn-
ing Goods.
Cheap iewelry is widely worn. Brook
Ign contains q dozen or moro stores in
which large trade is done in all classes
Of plated ware, from the 50-cent diamond
% pin to the elegantly engraved triple
plated bracelet. Some years ago bogus
jeIvelry was only affected by the lower
classes of cOlored people, but if a dealer
with whom a reporter talked recently is
to be believed nine-tenths of the iewelry
worn is not solid. The reporters inform
ant desired to impress him with the fact
that q vast difference existed between
plated and "snide" jewelry. SSnide jew
elry is sometimes called electro-plated
ware and is what is generally supposed
to have been dipped in gold.
The dipping process is no longer in use.
To the inexperienced eye no difference Is
to be found between an electro-plated
chain worth IS cents and q solid gold
chain valued ct So Both lock alike, and
if the plated chain turns black in a few
days its appearance when purchased is
quite IS good, if not better, than that OF
the real article. This city is becoming a
center for the cheap jewelry trade. East
ern manufacturers have for weeks been
examining sites for the purpose Of erect
ing mammoth factory in Brooklyn on
the river front The industry is large
one and employ S Thousands OF hands. In
case the manufacturers mentioned above
can find favorable location, ground VIII
be broken for the factory the coming fall.
WILL oUTWEAR SOLID JEwELRY.
It is claimed that cheap or triple plated
jewelry will wear longer and give better
satisfaction than solid, and that it makes
better appearance, and if lost or stolen
the loss is comparatively a small one.
Quartz stones, cut diamond shape, or with
thirty-five faces, are Of recent date. They
are of yellow color and unbacked. AT
night the effect of q dozen Or more OF these
stones is dazzling. Quartz is found in
Brazil in large quantities and shipped to
Holland for cutting, and from there trans
ported to this country. Diamonds have
often passed from the custom house Off
Gals in New York and elsewhere billed as
quartz.
Continued the reporters informant: The
fraud is now something of a chestnut
but has been practiced with entire sue
cess. Rhine stones, backed with tin foil,
are much Worn by young girls in their
hair, and by members of the theatrical
profession. Rhine stones are made OF
glass and contain /; small per centage OF
red lead. Formerly the manufacture OF
Rhine stones was exclusively q French
y, I. Nc lot n
been made in New York. sell q good
quality Rhine stone, nicely mounted in
stud, for thirty-ive cents. Quartz dta-
mond rings and pins in solid gold settings
can be bought from 81 to SO each. Brace
lets of rolled gold warranted to wear ten
years, bring 81 to s. each. Watch chains
are worth from SO cents to e. A large
trade is ticne in gold plated, nickel and
silver ore watches. II IS said that silver
ore will wear longer and not scratch so
easily as watch cases made Of coin silver.
| They are one fifth cheaper \ watch with
a silver ore case can be bought for s.,
THE CLASS WHO BUY THE BOGUS.
what class buy plated wedding rings:"
was asked.
"You would be surprised to see the men
who purchase bogus engagement and
wedding rings. They do not appear as
though for St Or s. would make. any mate
rial difference to them. We sell plated
rings from 81 to sc cents each. It is anus
ing to see the manner in which many
well-dressed and respectable people buy
cheap jewelry. Before they ask to be
shown goods they make the clerk under
stand that the jewelry which it is their
intention to purchase is not desired for
them. Ii is usually bought for servants
or children, they say. Children can not
wear large plated bracelets or brooches,
neither do they were heavily plated watch
chains. Many peoples pride will not al
low them to acknowledge that they
purchase bogus jewelry for their own
wear
Cheap jewelry is rarely worn BY women
in mourning An entire set of cheap
mourning goods composed of imitation jet
can be purchased for 81. OF late years
the dry goods houses have added cheap
iawelry departments, and the business
done in this line is large. The first-class
jewelry stores, too have been compelled
to acknowledge the Importance OF the
cheap trade, and sell plated ware. One
dealer informed the reporter that the
profit on cheap jewelry was smalI-only
IS per cent. being realized.-Brooklyn
Eagle