The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-03-09
of many superstitions that have long

been held to. 1t was but lew years
ago that the opal was regarded as a
most unlucky stone, while to-day the
fashionable jeweler has all he can do to
supply the great demand for them.
Public sentiment has entirely changed,
and to-day the opal is believed to be
lucky, and fashion has adopted it. Opal
rings are just the thing now, and for
beauty and display they can hardly be
excelled. An opal set in small circle
of diamonds or pearls makes a most
beautiful ring, and they are worn now in
all styles, it being the stone itself that is
fashionable. If one can get rid of the
superstition of ill luck, and wear an opal
ring, the very latest ideas of fashion and
modern thought are complied with.
Another fad in jewels is the wearing OF
Wisconsin pearls in rings. These pearls
are from Sugar River, Wisconsin, but
they rival the Oriental pearls in many
ways. We should feel proud of this
native product that has become SO fash
ionable, and they are worthy of all ad-
'miration. They are of rare colors, pink
black and bronze-tints not possessed
by the Oriental pearle, and altogether
they form a most beautiful setting.
They are set together in pairs and threes,
sometimes five small ones in row, and,
again, they are encircled with sraall dia.
mouds, which act admirably to set off
the natural tints of the pearl. These
may be purchased in all styles at prices
ranging from fifty dollars for the single
pearls to ten times as much for the more
elaborate styles.
Diamonds are always fashionable, and
rubies and sapphires come next in pop
ular favor. These gems have perma-
nent hold, and styles change very little
regarding them. It is safe to say that
young ladies prefer solitaire, and it is
likely that for engagement rings it will
always be popular, but after that the two
stone rings are most fashionable. The
choice of the jewelsis left to the taste of
the wearer, but one of the stones is gen.
orally a diamond. Sometimes where two
diamonds are worn, the stones differ
slightly in color, so that one serves to set
off the beauty of the other. A diamond
with ruby or sapphire makes beautiful
combination, and where the diamond is
the centre stone of the three, the effect Is
very good. A new style in engagement
rings Is one which will probably not meet
with general favor. The ring does not
form a complete circle, but the two ends
overlap one another, and each end is set
with diamond, which brings the two
Jewels up and down. It Is more than
Ixely, however, that the solitaire will
continue the favorite as suggested. The
English wedding ring, which is mar,
row band, but very thick, is still most
popular; the so.called American ring be-
ing WIDE and altogether too prominent
band.
Snake rings are also in favor, being
composed of two or three coils. Some
times jewels are set in for eyes, and again
the ring is made of plain gold. Coil
rings, or rope rings, made OF two or
three twisted wires are also worn. These
rings are all gold, or else OF gold and
platina alternating. Another curious
ring is the rheumatism ring, which is
composed of iron filed in with some
other metal. This ring is supposed to be
a preventive against rheumatism, but it
will not appeal to many people on &C.
count of its beauty. The slender mar
quiee ring is always favorite, with a
central stone surrounded with small
pearls or diamonds. "Pinky" rings are
still much affected by young ladies, who
select them with the gem appropriate to
the month of their birth.-Harpers
Bazaar.