The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-29
THE POPULAR JEWELS.
and FAIR POSSESSORS WHOSE
NAMES ARE FAMILIAR.
Famous American Women who Have For
tunes in Their Jewel Caskets-A Perfect
Ruby Is Rarely Found.

The study OF precious stones is very
1 fascinating. and their possession is a
source Of genuine pleasure TO their owner.
a great many books have been written
or the subject Of Jewels and there is
hardly a home in America where jewels
Of one sort or another may not be found.
1t is said that the women Of any two
rations on the earth do not own so many
jewels as do the women OF the United
States. Besides being OBJECTS Of beauty
jewels may be regarded I'm the light OF
simple investment, Tor they are CON
sidered by many 20 be as safe an in
Vtstment as Government bonds. Pre-
cious stones have slight Auctuation and
are extremely portable. During times or
political trouble or revolution Jewels have
always risen in value. During the French
Revolution diamonds doubled in price
Diamonds surpass an other gems in
brilliancy although this depends very
much upon the form Of cutting. For
many years they were cut la long and
squire shapes, but stones cur in this
manner have not nearly such value as
stones cut in the more modern form
OF the brilliant" The value OF the
diamond increases as the size increases.
A dealer in diamonds has stated that
the precious stones worn by the women
OF the United States are worth not less
than S90,W0000. Comparatively few wO-
men own a large number OF the stones
represented by this $500 100000. The Jewels
owned by the women Of the Astor family
exceed s.. 100000.
The late Mrs. Jacob Astor wore on pub
lie occasions tiara so beautiful that
few OF the crowned heads OF Europe or
Indian princes could boast It's equal. Mrs
William Waldorf Aston has riviere OF
diamonds in three graduated rows. each
row worth a fortune i'm itself She also
possesses the world renowned necklace
Of six strings with the gold OF the
setting hidden and only the stones Wis
ible
The Vanderbilt Jewels probably exceed
100000 In value. Mrs William X. Van
derbilt has a superb diamond crescent
two inches IN diameter. She has a pearl
necklace, once owned by the Empress
Eugene, a rope Of pearl about forty
inches long and valued at $4,000. Mrs.
Frederick Vanderbilt has one OF the most
valuable necklaces in the world
Mrs. Hicks-LOrd owns not less than-s5J0-
900 worth OF precious stones. She has a
pecklace OF hawless diamonds worth SZ50-
WO Besides this she owns four other
afNNNiNNNa anu AAe must FdluADlt PAIR OF
so,ataire earrings I'm the United States
she wears these stones arranged IA diff
ferent ways. Sometimes they are I'm tho
form OF flower, again as spray OF
leaves, or they are used 70 apparently
fasten different parts OF her costume.
She has a fan with fifteen raised folds,
studded with diamonds which she often
wears In her hair. This fan is equaled
nowhere I'm the world. a bouquet holder
with its mouth ablaze with jewels, and
a white point De 'Aleucon fan. worn on a
chatelalne OF diamonds and pearls. are
the envy OF an beholders.
The Marquise LAMA has large NUM-
Der Of exquisite jewels; among them a |
diamond pendant OF thirty-two stones. /
Mrs. Lindley Chaplin has a diamond neck /
lace worth $1,000. Mrs. Griswold Grey /
has a large and valuable collection On /
jewels. mostly emeralds
While the majority Of diamonds seen i
are pure white. some OF the very vaiua-
Bile ones are colored. They are found In /
white, yellow. orange red. pink, brown, 4
green. blae. black and opalescent. Those /
stones having decided color are very /
rare, only one deep red diamond ever
having been found.
Fine rubies OF one carat or more are |