The Grenada gazette., 1888-02-18
DIAMOND COLLECTIONS.
Lahies Who Consider Precious stones tI,s
Safest Form of Invcstnent.

"""'s VINO Gohsiuer Precious Siones tho
Safest Form of Investment.
wealthy men in society have adopted
something new in the way Of glfts for
their feminine relatives, These are as
substantial ~ bank notes or stocks,
whereas, in beauty. they are as artistic
rs any that could be- designed. They
have taken he form OF precious stones,
and more particularly diamonds. Re-
Gently vas shown a collection of ln.
set diamonds which 4 wealthy society
lady had received from her husband.
who is prominent ply ,ician in this
city. There were thirty in the collcc-
lion. and they repre- ,enled New Year
and birthday gifts. They varied in
size from one carat to five carats. and
were OF the purcst water. As the lady
unrolled them in their chamois cover.
ing, they blazcd like so many little
electric lights.
MY husband" she said, "beIieves
in giving me such presents as will re.
tain their value and in case of need
can always be disposed Of. In this
queer world of ours, whore fortunes
rise and fall when least expected, such
a collection as this is always \ sub
stantial thing to rely upou. Of course.
he could have given me real estate. OF
stocks. or bonds. Or many other sub
stantial and valuable presents, but ali
OF these are liable to fluctuate in val
ne, whereas diamonds. especially
when not set, are as valuable years
afte: they have been purchased as they
we're at first. My husband has writ.
ten guarantee from the jeweler for
each diamond that he 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
jewelerA make one of the safest forms
of investment. They never lose in
value even when they are worn. A
guarantee Is given with them 70 rs.
sure the customer that lie has not paid
too much for them. There are very
few kinds of property either personal
or real. tnat a man can say rs much
Tor. In every case diamonds can be 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.
II is getting to be the thing now
when wealthy ladies call upon each
other for the hostess to show hel
guests the progress OF her collection.
The gems are discussed criticised and
fondlcd. The fair ladies are getting
to be thorough critics i'll The matter oI
diamonds and could give points tc
many jewellers. They nave learned to
judge their values at glance and
take a great deal of pride in their col
lections. The lady who can show the
largest and the purest jewels is the
envy of all her friends.
am told that parties where men are
excluded are frequently gotten up 70,
the purpose Of comparing collections.
Ea ch guest brings hers along. After
the usual salu,a,ions they gather in
the library and each brings out hel
little case. Swapping is sometimes in
dulged in. and the rading is carried
on with as m-ch keenness and shrew,l.
ness as tho h, Sbands OF fathers display
in their own business dealings,
The desire of the ladies is to get a
collection in which the diamonds shall
harmonic in purity and also in size.
They are spread out on white cotton
in the same manner affected by
jewellers in their display of precious
stones. Some of the collections are
very valuable. and several New York
women are reputed to have received
several hundred thousands of dollars
in this form.
The diamonds are kept in eases Of
beautiful and elaborate design. Nearly
avery lady has private safe in which
to lock them. Some, however. who
are more timid and have a wholesome
fear of burglars. keep their diamonds
in safe deposit vaults. whence they are
taken only when occasion requires.
Among the owners Of these coilec-
tions are some of the best known and
most prominent society women. The
ladies of the Vanderbilt and Astur
families are known to have large col.
lec,ions, as is also Mrs. Belmont As
much as possible the Ladies' keep the
knowledge of their collections from
the general public for fear of being
uncaremonionsly relieved of them bf
thieves. N T. Cor. Hi'ntciphta Press.
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