The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1886-08-06
CHEAP LEwELaX.
Sham Diamonds, Plated and Rolled Gold
Gold and Other False Pretenses.

Sham Diamonds. Plated and Rolled Gold
Gold and Other False Pretenses.
Cheap jewelry is widely worn. Brook
lyn contains dozen or more stores in
which large trade is done in all
classes of plated ware, from the fifty
cent diamond CD pin to the elegantly
engraved triple-plated bracelet. Some
years ago bogus jewelry was only af-
fected by the lower classes of colored
people, but e dealer with whom
reporter talked recently is to be be-
lieved, nine-tenths of the jewelry worn
is not solid: The reporters informant
desired to impress him with the fact
that vast difference existed between
plated and ''snide" jewelry. ''Snide"
jewelry 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 diff
ference is to be found between an
electro-plated chain worth seventy-five
cents and a solid gold chain valued at
ten dollars. Both look alike, and if
the plated chain turns black in few
days, its appearance when purchased
is quite as good, if not better, than that
of the real article. This city is becom-
ing center for the cheap jewelry trade.
Eastern manufacturers have for weeks
been examining sites for the purpose
of erecting q mammoth factory in
Brooklyn on the river front
1t is claimed that cheap or triple
plated jewelry will wear longer and
give better satisfaction than solid, and
that it makes a better appearance, and
if lost or stolen the loss is compare
lively small one. Quartz stones, cut
diamond shape, or with thirty-five faces
are of recent date. They are of yell
low color and unbacked. At night the
effect of a dozen or more of these stones
is dazzling Quartz is found in Brazil
in large quantities and shipped to Hol-
land for cutting and from there trans
ported to this country. Diamonds
have often passed the custom house
officials in New York and elsewhere
! billed as quartz. Continued the re-
pOrter's informant: 1.-The fraud is now
| something of q chestnut, but has been
practiced with entire success. Rhine
stones backed with tin foil are much
worn by young girls in their hair and
by members of the theatrical profess
sion. Rhine stones are made of glass
]
| lead. Formerly the manufacture OF
Rhine stones was exclusively a French
industry, but of late years many have
been made in New DIRK. / sell a good
quality Rhine stone, nicely mounted in
q stud, for thirty-cents. Quartz dia-
mond rings and pins in solid gold set
tings can be bought from four dollars
to ten dollars each. Bracelets of rolled
gold warranted to wear ten years bring
one dollar to three dollars each. Watch
chains are worth from fifty cents tC
two dollars. A large trade is done in
gold-plated nickel and silver ore
watches. 1t is said that silver ore will
wear longer and not scratch so easily
as watch cases made of coin silver.
They are one-ffth cheaper. A watch
with a silver ore case can be bought for
four dollars.
''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 APP
pear as though four or five dollars
would make any material difference to
them. We sell plated rings from thirty
five to ninety cents each. 1t 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
understand that the jewelry which it is
their intention to purchase is not de-
sired for them. 1t is usually bought
for servants or children, they say
Children can not wear large plated
bracelets or brooches, neither do they
wear heavily-plated watch chains.
Many peoples pride will not allow
them to acknowledge that they pur-
chase bogus jewelry for their own
wear"
Cheap jet jewelry is rarely worn by
women in mourning. An entire set of
cheap mourning goods composed of
imitation Jet can be purchased for one
dollar. OF late years the dry-goods
heuses have added cheap jewelry de-
partments, and the business done in
this line is large. Tho first-class
jewelry stores, too, have been COM.
PEELED to acknowledge the Importance
of the cheap trade, and sell plated
ware.
A firm dealing exclusively in cheap
iewelrv and having its headquarters in
Brooklyn has branch stores in other
large cities. The pioneer trade was
done by .'fakers,' - who travelled from
town to town, remaining in one city
until business slackened. One dealer
informed the reporter that the profit
ON cheap jewelry was small-only
seventy-five per cent. being realized
Brooklyn Eagle.