The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-08
THE COLLECTING MANIA.
Lucky People Who Can Afford to Become Col
lectors Of Diamonds.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
NEW YORK, JAN 7.-Wealthy men in society
have adopted something new in the way of gifts
for their feminine relatives. These are SUBJ
stantial as bank notes or stocks, whereas, in
beauty, they artistic any that could be
designed. They have taken the form of precious
stones, and more particularly diamonds. Re-
Gently was shown collection of unset dia-
monds which wealthy society lady had re
ceived from her husband, who is a prominent
physician of this city. There were thirty in the
collection and they represented New Year and
birthday gifts. They varied in size from one
carat to five carats, and were of the purest
water AS the lady unrolled them in their
channels covering, they blazed like so many
little electric lights.
"My husband" she said believes in giving
me such presents as will retain their value, and
in of need, can always be disposed of. In
this queer world of ours. where fortunes rise
and fall when least expected, such collection
AS this is always a substa initial thing to rely
upon. OF course he could have given me real
estate, or stocks, or bonds, or many other sub
stantial or valuable presents. but all of these
are liable to fuctuate in value, whereas dla-
monds, especially when not set are as valuable
years after they have been purchased as they
were at first. My husband has a written guar
antee from the jeweler for each diamond thathe
has bought for me, in which the jeweler agrees
to pay ninety per cent. of their cost at any time
that we wish to dispose of them"
Diamonds, according to the leading jewelers.,
make one of the safest forms of investmen
They never lose in value even when they are
worn. A guarantee is given with them to as
sure the customer that he has not paid too much
for them There are very few kinds of property.
either personal or real, that man can say as
much for. In every case diamonds Can pc
sold for eighty per cent, at the very least, OF
what was paid for them. 1t is only recently
that wealthy people have learned this fact
Although it was always known that diamonds
would at any time possess a certain value, 1T
was not known that there so little deprecIa-
ton. The custom among jewelers. to give a
guarantee is the outcome of the custom on the
part of the wealthy people to buy diamonds as
investments and not as ornaments
1t is said that many prominent society women,
like the lady have already spoken OF. have
snug fortunes in unset diamonds which have
come to them in the way of gifts. One great
advantage is that they can easily be disposed OF
to the same jeweler from whom they were
bought, whenever the fair possessor desires to
get little extra pin money. Wealthy society
women who have such collections can always
feel certain of raising snug sum OF money at a
pinch in this way 1t is to them as agreeable
custom as any hitherto devised.
1t is getting to be the thing now when wealthy
ladies call upon each other for the hostess to
show her guests the progress of her collection
The gems are discussed, criticised and fondled.
The fair ladies getting to be thorough critics
in the matter of diamonds, and could give points
to many jewellers. They have learned to judge
their values at glance. and take great deal of
pride in their collections The lady who can
show the largest and the purest jewel is the
envy of all her friends
am told that parties where men are excluded
are frequently gotten up for the purpose of
comparing collections Each guest brings hers
along. After the usual salutations they gather
in the library and each brings out her little case.
Swapping is sometimes INDUCED in. and the
trading is carried on with as much keenness
and shrewdness the husbands or fathers dis
play in their own business dealings.
The desire of the ladies is to get collection
in which the diamonds shall harmonic in purity
and also in size. They spread out white
cotton in the same manner affected by jewelers.
in their display of precious stones. Some of the
collections very valuable and several New
York women are reputed to have received sew
eral hundred thousand dollars in this form.
The diamonds are kept in cases of beautiful
and elaborate design. Nearly every lady has a
private safe in which to lock them. Some, how
ever, who are more timid. and have whole
some fear of burglars. keep their diamonds In
safe deposit vault. whence they are taken only
when occasion requires Among the owners OF
these collections some of the best known
and prominent society women. Inc iSdles OF
the Vanderbilt and Astor families are known 10
have large collections. as is also Mrs belmont
AS much as possible the ladies keep the knowi-
edge of their collections from the general public
for fear of being unceremoniously relieved or
them by thieves. CHARLES - houBAuLT-