The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-05
DIAMONDS AND PEARLS.
Something About the Jewel Boxes in
New York.
From the Neto York Star.

From the Net0 York Star
As to the fashion in gems, it seems as if
the diamond has come to stay. It's popu-
larity is one of SO long standing that one
sometimes wonders at it when fashion is so
tickle in everything else. But as there are
only four precious stones, this fact may acS
couat for it, for if the fashion in gems
changed every year, these four stones would
soon be exhausted, and it would be neces-
sary to fall back on the semi-precious
stones.
Although the diamond remains in fashion
the setting varies q little each year. There
is rumor that the jewels OF clusters of
diamonds are not going to be quite the
thing, as they are considered Ineffective at
q distance.
A newer fashion is to set the stones in rows
or conventional designs, the Greek and East
Indian being popular, and diamond chain
made of links, leaves and arebesques is a
favorite design for a necklace. Small
tiaras and bands Of diamonds are taking the
place Of the suns and stars that have been
so popular, and combs and single pins are
much worn. Jeweled epaulets seem to be
considered indispensable by the woman Of
| fashion for low gown, while necklaces are
quite as often used to adorn the bodice az
the neck.
Probably no finer private collections Of
gems can be found in any city in the worlo
| than in New York. The Aston diamond,
| are famous, and have been for moro than g
generation. Mrs. William Astor's diamond.
are as we'll known in London and Pa is a
| in New York, and are noted for number
perfect color and brilancy, rather than foi
size. In Mrs. Astor's collection is q stom-
achsr. composed of a glittering mass OF
diamonds, necklace of five rows of soil
taires, a girdle, three diamond stars, sun
| a comb, coronet and her famous tiara OF
| diamonds and pearls, besides a number Of
riggs and bracelets.
| Every one remembers the account of the
diamond necklace given to Mrs. William
| Waldorf Aston on the occasion of her mar
riage. 1t was composed of suns, stars
| pendants and rows OF solitaires, the value
being S500,0O9. She has also an enormous
sapphire, set in diamonds, as a pendant
| that flames and flashes like blue fire.
Mrs. Coleman Drayton, a daughter oil
| Mrs Astor, has many fine diamonds, in
GLIDING a necklace of diamonds and anne
thysts.
Mrs. j. G. Coster owns string of pearls
| valued at 81, 900, aud a diamond necklace
that belonged to ex-Queen Isabella of Spain
| for which she paid $780, 900. Mrs. Coster hao
the largest diamond taken out of the NECK
lace and set as ring.
| Mrs. Willie Vanderbilt, who is said tc
| have introduced the diamond sun, has five
| of these Jewels that she wears in her hail
arranged as tiara or on her corsage, and
as they are graduated in size the effect is
very beautiful. This lady also iniulges in
| the unique ornament of necklace COM
| posed of single row of diamonds strung
| like pearls.
| Mrs. Hicks-Lord rejoices in large num-
Der of diamonds and pearls, one necklace
alone being valued at 100000. With g
| high gown at her afternoon receptions she
| frequently wears at one time three or -four
strings of pearls and as many rows of dia-
monds close about her throat, the whole
producing brilliant and rich effect. Al
another time she wears her diamond neck
lace, composed of several rows of solitaires
fastened at the throat of her high gown and
festooned to her left shoulder, where it il
| held in place by cluster of roses and leaves
| composed entirely of diamonds. OF course
| she has rings and bracelets without num-
Der, and pins and buttons innumerable.
Mrs. Leland Stanford is said TO have the
largest and most valuable collection OF
diamonds in the world, excepting the crown
| Jewels of England and Russia. She has
some of the choicest gems from the baskets
Of Isabella of Spain and Eugene Of France
and loses no opportunity to add to her jewel
box, the contents of which are now valued al
| over $4,000, 000 Among her diamond neck
] laceS she has one of the pale blue tint, that
| is preferred to all others, and which is the
most valuable. She also has a necklace Of
the rose pink, yellow and white diamonds
| Mrs. G. Bettner is the possessor of many
| fine diamonds and pearls, which are chiefly
set as earrings and pins. The notable pail
of earrings is of very large, pear-shapeG
pearls set in diamonds, and with diamond
| pendant Mrs. Bettper's diamonds are re-
markable for their purity and brilliance.
| Mrs. d. o. Mills, Jr., has a number Of
valuable jewels, including diamond neck
| lace of three strings of solitaires, set oil
buttons, three diamond crabs, and a pail
| of bracelets.
| Mrs. J. B. Thompson is the owner of Q
diamond necklace that once clasped the
neck of the Empress Josephine. How many
| tales these historic stones might tell, il
power were given them to speak.
| Mime. Barrios, Mrs. Paran Stevens. Mrs
Oliver Iselin, and Mrs. August Belmont all
have a number of valuable diamonds. Mrs
| Belmont also possesses a necklace OIL
very handsome sapphires, which ars
counted among the famous gems worn by
| New York ladies.
Mrs. Chauncey Dspew has welI-filled
jewel casket, but her preference is fol-
| pearls, and she has a string of very large
perfectly shaped pearls. Mrs. Marshall o.
Roberts has pa ure of pearls that cannot
1 be excelled, and Mrs. Van Rensselaer,