Los Angeles herald., 1891-12-15
A PALACE OF JEWELS.
The Superb Collection of Precious
Gems and Gold and Silver Ware at
the Kimberly.

Gems and Gold and Silver Ware at
the Kimberly.
"A mass of jewels glittering free,
Like to some branch of stars we see
Hung in the golden galaxy"
-[TENNYsoN.
A gorgeous vision of color and spark
ling light-as if some mighty Titan had
shattered rainbow and scattered it's
prismatic fragments with lavish hand
just now is most potent source of
attraction to our citizens of wealth and
refinement, at the Palace of Jewels
yclept Wagner's Kimberly" No. 125
South Spring street. Certainly Mr..
Wagner's extensive iewelry store, the
largest in Los Angeles. deserves the
title of the Tiffany's of the Pacific coast,
SO aptly bestowed on it yesterday by an
eastern lady tourist who was enraptured
by the magnificent collection of dia-
monds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds,
oriental opals and other precious gems,
as we'll as the superb collection of solid
silver plate.
In preparation for the Christmas sea-
son, with it's gift giving, Mr.. Wagner
has laid in a stock that combines all
the ethics of magnifcence and thorough
artistic taste. Today the Kimberly is
vast storehouse of treasures, compris-
ing the rarest jewels and the most ex-
qusite fashionings in gold and silver to
be found on the Pacific coast. Were that
rare artisan, Benvenuto Cellini, enabled
to view this wondrous collection. he
would now rest content that the artisan
ship of the arch-Jeweler of all time has
been equaled in the present epoch in
Wagner's "Kimberly."
A HERALD reporter, attracted by the
fashionable crowd which thropged the
"Kimberly" yesterday afternoon, crossed
its portals. and was dazzled bv the scene
of brilliancy and beauty presented.
Among the chefs-d'euvres exposed to
view was an exquisite bracelet COM
posed of nine faultless diamonds, each
weighing "a karats, strung on a slen-
der circlet of gold. They are full of
flashing fire and brilliancy, and are
from the old Kimberly mine in Africa,
famous all over the world for its won
drous gems. These diamonds are un-
questionably the finest ever brought to
Los Angeles. Another quaint and beau
tiful work of art is bracelet composed
of sapphires, rubies and emeralds, all
carefully selected gems, set in diamonds.
A delicate filigreeEgold necklace, with an
intricately beautiful pearl and diamond
pendant in the shape of a heart, also at
traoted much attention. Mr.. Wagner's
collection of oriental opals is certainly the
largest and most beautiful ever imported
to California from Australia; in truth
the larger opals looked like "a bank of
maiden snow mingled with sparks of
fire." The collection OF unset gems,
comprising diamonds, emeralds, 1ubies
and other precious stones is very large,
thus giving purchasers the option of
selecting their own gems and having
them fashioned to suit their individual
taste or fancy. The display OF ear
rings, necklaces, brooches, studs,
rings and other articles of ieweled
biiouterie is also very comprehensive.
One of the latest fashionable novelties is
the solid gold chain bracelet with tiny
golden paddock and key, an appropriate
souvenir of betrothal; silver and gold
6ligree jewelry, most daintily fashioned
by artistic hands, can here also be found
in lavish profusion.
Mr.. Wagner, with characteristic en-
terprise, has also laid in we'll selected
stock of solid silver tea and coffee SER
vices in beaten silver, hand engrav ed,
repousse work. chased silver, satin fin
ished and gold lined, veritable marvels
of the jewelers. skill. His collection of
opera glasses, genuine Lemaire's in pearl,
ivory, aluminium, enamel and solid gold
is certainly the finest ever placed on ex-
hibition in this city. The watch cases
are filled with gold and silver produc-
tions, including the celebrated Howard
movement, the best Swiss movements
and the most approved movements from
the Elgin and Waltham factories. On
the shelves will also be found an extern
sive collection of clocks -veritable OBJ
jects of art fashioned in the rarest onyx
and marble, while the display of fiat or
tableware in ivory and pearl is certainly
worth seeing. Gold-headed canes and
umbrellas, gold pens, and in fact all the
comprehensive compendium of jewels
and precious metals, objects Of art and
biiouterie to be found in a tirst-class
jewelers. establishment are now on ex-
hibition at Wagner's Kimberly" the
largest jewelry establishment in Los
Angeles. Mr.. Wagner, who began busi-
ness in Los Angeles twelve years ago
with one small showcase, can now look
down the length Of lao feet occupied by
the kimberly Palace OF Jewels" and
point thereto with pride, for twelve
years careful attention to business,
plenty of pluck and enterprise, and