The Grenada gazette., 1888-02-25

the leading jeweler. but the "winner'
is quite apt to find that the stones are
not worth ten per cent of the stated
value.
People will frequently buy = gem
because the name OF some reliable
house appears upon the box which
contains it In such cases it is we'll to
satisfy ones self AS to Shakespeare
query: What's in name9"
Many diamonds are purchased from
pawnbr okers by parties who find 8
certain fascination in buying things
that may have been acquired in ques-
tionable manner They feel they are
surely getting a bargain. 1t is need.
less to say that most pawnbrokers are
very we'll informed as to the value Of
articles in their possession, especially
diamonds, and profiting by the pur.
chaser's air of wisdom they rarely
hesitate to ask an exorbitant price.
The same quality Of stone might in al.
most every case have been purchased
for less money and with much moro
satisfaction to the purchaser The
popular belief that one can buy cheap
from pawnbrokers and at auc ions is
so well understood that in Mexico.
where the pawnbrokers are under
government patronage. dealers fire.
quently place diamonds and other
gems with them to be sold al auction
on commission. and get better prices
than they could in their own shops.
Not all dealers that pretend to be
pawn brokers are really such. Many
of them sell what they have purchased
from other brokers at annual sales,
and only do little pawn broking FOX
show. to assist them in disposing OF
their stock.
Before diamond is offered for sale
by a pawnbroker it has generally
been shown to from one to a dozen
dealers and brokers, who have all had
an opportunity to purchase it if they
choose, or certainly to assure the
owner of its true value. If it is any
thing exceptional it will surely find a
purchaser. If it is imperfect, off
colored, very much spread and VII
make a big show for little money,
it will in due time find place in the
pawn brokers' window.
Some brokers have been known to
do quite n fourishing trade in the
country, and even in some of the larger
towns by confidentially informing the |
customers as an inducement that they
were enabled TO sell cheap because
they had bought the stones
from fence" or receiver
# stolen goods, Transactions
Of this character seem to have q
strange fascination for those who are
anxious 10 buy cheap. They do no.
reflect that, if true the gems have
been procured by burglary, theft or
even murder. II is needless to state
hat such buyers are usually duped.
and that the stones they purchase are
Usually obtained from regular dealers.
Who would think # buying chair.
able or other household utensil under
uch a presentation?
BY previous understanding with
he pledger, pawnbrokers sometimes
oan on diamond rings or watches
more than the articles are actually
worth. The piedger then disposes OF
he ticket at slight advance to a
bird party VIII redeems the article
It high figure, fancying that he has
bargain. In London they have gone
o far as to drop such tickets in the
treet, in the expectation that whoever
nds it will redee m the pledge.
The prices paid the thieves for stolen +
iamonds are sometimes ridiculously
mall. A diamond worth four hundred
ollars which was torn from n lady's
ar some years ago in Fifth avenue,
vas sold by the thief for less than
wenty dollars. and many similar cases
re on record. Diamonds are occa.
ionally sold by dealers at less than
heir original cost TO import. in order
D procure ready money to ward off
allure. In such cases legal steps
ave been taken to show that fraud
as attempted, for. however small the
mount Of sacrifice claimed, dealers ,
'ho compete in the same market i'm.
lediately surmse that something is I
'rong.
1t would be possible for diamond to
e stolen in any part of New York City
nd for it to appear twenty-four hours
fter in almos st any jewelers. stock {
" sale. There are so many different
radcs of dealers or brokers that the
lief would have no difficulty in SELL
lg to some fence. who in turn would
III to some one not particular as to I
lie source Of The stone. and thus. by
lcccssive steps. the stone might pass I
trough dozen hands in one day. {
1t would be impossible to identify a 7
one OF one, two or three carats of /
)od color and without flaws or some
Of shape, just as it would 7
, - recognize single drop in a tum- ,
er of water. .-- Gorge 7. Kunz, in N ,
Mail and Er5-esS