The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-04-14
6ETROTHAL TOKENS.
What 1t Costs to Announce an Engage
ment in Precious Stones.

What 1t Costs to Announce an Engage
ment in Precious Stones.
Cupid is VIGOROUSLY favorite with
jewellers, and no wonder. From the
days when the hearts affection feels
the need of an outward symbol. to the
time for wedding gifts, lovers pay con-
slant tribute to the dealers in gold and
silver and precious stones. 1t is in the
early days of accepted love, however,
that fashion dictates most absolutely,
and for once at least chimes with senti-
ment. Rings are essential to an en-
gagement, and only she who has ugly
hands or strong love with basis of
economy will be content with none.
Moreover, in the purchase of engage
ment rings every consideration is shown
to bank accounts, but it is hardly allow
able for young man to run into debt
or pawn his overcoat for the sake of his
dear girl. Fortunately the latitude in
respect to the choice of rings has been
constantly increasing lately, and such
unfortunate expedients are quite I'M
necessary. One condition is well-nigh
indispensable, however. The stone of
the ring must be solitaire. Occa-
sionally one sees set of two or three
or even a cluster of diamonds. rubies
or emeralds, but while the effect is
often pretty, it lacks brilliancy, fire,
and the conferred beauty that marks the
solitaire. An exception should be made
in favor of the opal, surrounded by
small diamonds, combination that
enhances, if possible, the beauty of
both stones. A diamond is often mar
ried to ruby or an emerald, but
neither stone gains by the contrast. In
fact, almost the only merit of such sets
or clusters is their low price, compared
with that of single stones.
Among the solitaires, the diamond
reigns supreme and is properly re-
gardod by love-sick SWANS as the most
precious gift to very precious object.
It's preciousness lies not merely in its
great cost, but also in its unrivaled
brilliancy, that has made it a perennial
object OF admiration. In respect to
price, diamonds will satisfy the eco
nomical man who does not insist on
having a large stone, or will diminish
the size of the wealthy mans pocket.
A ring containing a tirst-class diamond
weighing one-quarter of karat will
cost about 500. From this prices in
crease rapidly, doubling of the weight
of the stone involving an addition of
| oh 1913 fo fbn ,,t,ion A
diamond weighing half a karat will
cost about $50, one weighing karat
about $l25, and so on up to $1,000.
which is practically the limit. They
are cut with a broad crown on the
upper part and taper to point below.
The horizontal diameter of stone of a
quarter-karat weight is about one
eighth of an inch. The setting for
these as well as for most solitaires is Of
plain description. while the ring is
nothing but a slender hoop of gold.
Next after diamonds in the scale of
popularity come the cleaning white
pearls. They are lower priced than
diamonds, one of grain weight cost.
ing $40 or $15. A grain is equivalent
to about one-quarter of karat. Larger
ones can be obtained at any price, but
$50 is about the limit for engagement
rings. Many persons prefer, there
fore, to get moderate-sized pearl
rather than q small diamond at the
same price. Contrary to general opin-
ion, moreover, genuine oriental pearls
are not easily injured or broken, but
will bear as hard usage as diamonds.
The darling, fiery opal is readily grow
ing in favor as suitable stone for an
engagement ring. For long time it
has borne the reputation of bringing i'll
luck, but the superstition has lost its
force. The poet sings:
October's child is born to woe
And lifes vicissitudes must know;
But lay an opal on his breast,
And hope will lull those woes TO rest.
Opals are cut in carbuncle shape and
may be used as solitaires or in combina-
ton with smaller diamonds. In price
they are even lower than pearls, but
vary greatly in quality. One of a karat
weight will cost from $40 to SIS
Looked at from different sides, all opal
reflects all the colors of the rainbow
and iustifes the admiration it excites.
Rubies, emeralds and sapphires are used
in engagement rings, but have no
special popularity. Both rubies and
emeralds are as high priced as dia-
monds, but sapphires cost compare
lively little. One of the latest freaks of
fashion in tokens of engagement is a
flexible bracelet made up of gold blocks
enameled with forget-me-nots. Its cost
is about SIS. Plain rings without stones
are sold occasionally for this purpose,
but only to the poorer classes. To
those who have passed the period of
discussing engagement rings, it may be
well to suggest that the regulation we'd
ding ring is 2O-karat gold ring, cost
ing from 81 to $40. -Springfeld,
(MaSS.) Republican.
How to Treat HeaVes.
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