The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-02-28
TRICKS OF DIAMOND SELLERS.


Something Worry Different.
IF you want to buy diamond you must
be careful to go to a trustworthy house or
you will get awfully cheated, said young
man to friend who contemplated pur-
chasing adiamond. "Do you see this rings"
he added, extend ng one of his hands on
which fine diamond sparkled and gilt
tered in thesunlight. well, that's pretty
nice sort of q ring. and / had hard time
getting it. That's why I like it, and that's
the reason / warn you to be careful where
you go to get one.
"About year ago had surplus 500
bill in my pocket, and getting an idea that
would like to invest 1t In a ring went
down to a jewelry store to make the pur-
chase. There was in the show window on
exhibition this diamond that you see on my
finger 1t was marked for sale for 500. 1t
struck my fancy, and asked the clerk to
show it to me. After examining 1t with a
great deal of care and finding that it would
fit my finger, 1 decided that would take it.
~ am sorry said the clerk, but we are
not allowed to sell "show" goods, but
have the mate tb the stone here, and you
can buy it,
"He took the ring TO the rear Of the coun-
ter, and when he returned he had perfect
counterpart of the one which / desired
After the usual "details put the ring on my
finger. took the guarantee which he prof
fered and started up town and luckily hap
pened to meet friend who is an excellent
judge of diamonds. I was proud of my
ring, and, as you can imagine, lost no time
in showing it to him.
"'Thunder! he exclaimed, where did you
get that chunk OF glasss 1t looks as if 1t
had been run over by street car
II was highly indignant for moment,
but glance at the ring as l held it up to
the light convinced me that he was right.
1t did look as If 1T had been run over by
car wheels. 1t was terrible looking af-
fair, without luster or spirit. had been
swindled. The ring had selected was
still in the store, but had the guarantee,
and determined that on the following day
would have the stone changed, as was
sure that 1t was dill mistake. But next
day found out differently. They would
not exchange the ring for the one desired,
nor would they give me my money back.
They were willing to exchange for some
thing else, however, and finally took a
serpent ring with diamond head which
, cost the same as the other ring.
The clerk agaih gave me guarantee
and went away trying to make myself be
lieve that / was satisfied. The serpent
proved to be hoodoo to me. So in a
weeks time l whnted the ring changed
again, especially ds the recollection of the
fair one still haunted my mind Finally
resorted to my friend. the diamond expert,
for aid, and he suggested that he should
visit the store while remained on the side
walk, and after hd had told the clerk that
he wanted to buy ring and had found one
that was worth 300 he would take his
handkerchief from his pocket This would
be a signal for me to come in and take the
ring and give the serpent and guarantee
for it.
well, he went6into the store, and when
he found u ring That pleased him, which
happened to be the same ring that was
shown me, he took his handkerchief from
his pocket as we had agreed upon, and
walked in like a littlo man. My friend
asked me If that n ng suited me. took it
and gave the guarantee and the serpent ring
in exchange for it. The clerk made terri
Bile rumpua, but was desperate and could
not be 'bluffed off, So here have a ring
which is cheap for 800. There are plenty
of people being swindled the same way
every day, brit if they will only insist on
their rights they will come out all right in
the end, but would advise them to buy II
Il house that docs not resort to tricks of
that ort."-New York Tribune