The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1889-05-03
AMERICAN JEWElRY.
Aggravations and Annoyances TO Whfcr
Jewellers Are subject.

There is a great deal OF imported
jewelry in the market" said n leading
dealer yesterday. that is imported
only in the sense OF having been
brought into the city. Y'at is one OF
the ways in which the credulous pur-
chasers are dupcd into paying fancy
prices. That which is foreign seems to
have a charm for the average lady.
have even known pieces OF jewelry that
was out OF style 20 have ready sale
when the alluring bait that they were
imported novelties was held out or
course this trick would not work with
society ladies, who, rs n rule. keep
track OF innovations as carefully as
their husbands do OF stocks and bonds,
but the number of those who are will
ing TO be gulled in this way is legion.
Still, little fault can be found with this
weakness on the part OF ladies. since
gentlemen stickle FOR their imported
cigars.
''As "A matter OF fact except in cer-
tain types OF work. we make better
pie are misled into believing imported
goods 10 be OF superior make by the
fact that we commonly see more cheap
stun OF American make than good arti-
cles, while OF foreign jewelry we see
only the best II would pay TO import
no other quality, since We can make
third and fourth rate jewclry and put
1t on the market at lower prices than
though we availcd ourselves OF cheap
foreign labor and imported the articles.
There are some kinds OF work which.
as yet, we are away behind in. We
have few good lapidaries, for instance.
Our precious stones are almost invarl-
ably cut beyond the sea and shipped
here 10 be set by American worSmen.
That accounts for much OF the so-called
foreign jewelry. A few choice pieces
are bought abroad for the sake OF se-
curing the styles. and the imported
stones are then set i'm home made
frames designed after the foreign pat
terms.
One OF the most popular OF the for
eign novelties and it Is one i'm which
the old-world artists have no equals
the painted ivory artistically set in "A
gold frame. The delicate finish and
artistic beauty OF the ideal painted
faces give this class OF jewelry lien
on public favor which il well merits.
The frames are often thickly studded
with gems and are OF exquisite work
manship. With these miniatures tho
same practice Is followed as with dia-
monds-tho paintings are imported
and the frames are made here. Most
Of these pieces are made so as 20 bc
worn either rs n pendant or as n pin.
These worries are essentially articles OF
virtu and as such are probably the
nearest approach 90 the antique we
now have i'm the line OF icwclry.
think that they afford wider field for
pure art in personal adornmcnt than
any oSler type OF articles worn.
Upon the whole, our business is ono
OF the most aggravating now pursued
You would be surprised at tho amount
OF annoyance we experience from peo-
pies indecision. When ladies come in
they, as a rule. have little idea OF what
they want They are captivated by
the style or finish Of particular piece,
but the price Is beyond what they feel
warranted in paying. They know they
can't buy the article, but they revert TO
IL time and again, wish they could az
ford it,, wonder II the price can't be cut
a little, put IL on and want TO know how
it looks, and ask "A thousand and one
questions about what they don't mean
20 buy. There is an almost constant
conflict between longing and finances.
There is frequently an uncertainty as
10 what is best 20 do and the jcwcler i
asked his opinion, which he gives only
20 find IL isn't wanted. We arc also
largely subjected 20 that nuisance OF
having people come in 20 handle, price
and admire goods without the slightest
intention OF buying. II Is somewhat
risky 10 be short or show that you have
OWNED the intrudcr's purpose for IL is
often difficult 10 guage "A persons in
tentions and means and n customer
lost in this way means more than the
loss OF so much profit So, practically
all we can do is 10 grin and bear our
annOyanccs. ~ Chicago News