The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-11-16
DIAMONDS ARE RISING.
The Queen of Precious Stones VIII
Cost Big Money Now.
From the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Cost Big Money Now.
From the Philadelphia Inquirer
''This will be great season for dia-
monds," said an importer of precious stones
to reporter yesterday, as he fondled
handful of loose brillants that shone as SO
many living stars. "Our orders from
dealers are far in advance of the demands
| of previous years, and judging from that
you'll see more diamonds worn during the
social season than you have for years"
al lay it all to one cause continued the
| importer. st is a well known fact among
the trade that all precious stones, and dia-
monds particularly. are rapidly advancing
in price, The advance starts at the dia-
mond mines and it takes nearly season for
the rise to affect the retail trade. Already
diamonds have advanced from 25 to so per
cent. at the far away producing centers,
and the public has learned of it. Conse-
quently all the diamonds on the wholesale
market will be eagerly purchased by retail
jewelers. in anticipation of the advance
next year. They'll corner the market on
procurable stones and may buy enough to
last them for two years"
GOOD REASONS FOR ADVANCING.
"There are two important causes for the
advance continued the diamond merchant,
land in justice to the diamond trade, from
the operator in South Africa to the retail
jeweler in Philadelphia, l must say that
they are only just in their demands for
more money
"The cost of mining diamonds has in
creased largely during the past two years
Practically the big mines in South
Africa and Australia have been operated
without perceptible profit. AS the mining
goes on from year to year the operations
become attended with more expense and
greater danger. The machinery in use
ten years ago is of no value to miners now.
The blue earths.where the diamonds Ii Q
becomes harder and harder the deeper
operations penetrate, and has to be dug
| with great care in order to prevent caving
| in, and loss of life and machinery. 1t is
also in the deepest and most dangerous
places that the rarest gems are found, and
| that same spirit of adventure that prompts
| the explorer is just as marked in the dia-
moud miner. He makes a bold stroke
which may yield thousands or nothing.
| Then competition has become 80 keen
that the different companies have all been
losing money, and like the capitalists in
more civilized countries have formed a
trust. One of the most powerful trusts in
the world is the diamond trust. 1t is said
| that the RothschildS are interested to the
extent of $4,000 600. At any rate there's
big money back Of it, and people who wear
| diamonds all over the world will have to
pay their little tribute to the magnates that
mine the stones away. The combination
includes the working, under one manage
ment, of the Bulfontein, DeBeers and Kim
| berly mines. These are the most powerful
in the world, and control the larger portion
Of the diamond output. In fact there are
few diamonds mined outside of these three
mines. South American diamond mines
are played out, and the world looks for its
| queen of jewels to the wilds of South Africa
NOW is THE TIME TO BUY.
'ltis owing to the fact that the public
anticipates an advance in demands at the
mines and are also aware that it may be a
season before the advance affects the con-
Stunning trade. that they will flock to Their
dealer and dem md the choice of his stock
The diamond dealer knows that thisis his
harvest of many years and will make the
most of it. Such things are good for the
trade and create a fashion for jewels. AL
the talk about diamonds going out of fash.
ion will be dispelled by the society people
themselves, who will make NEST of the OBJ
portunity while it lasts and buy all the
diamonds they can stand.
This will be a great year for jewelry.
Watch and see," concluded the importer, as
he returned the glittering gems to theil
resting places amid a mass of soft white
| cotton.