The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-05-26
THE OWNERS OF GEMS.
San Franciscans Who Have Fine Pri-
vate Collections.


Palace, says there are plenty of good
gems in San Francisco, though he
admits that the people who really know
how TO buy are few.
"To begin with" he said, "there is
Mrs. Leland Stanford, who has dia
mcnd necklace easily worth $74, 900.
Beyond this she has some strings Of
rare pearls, and a lot of rubies and
emeralds and diamonds. 1t is really a
notable collection, though COMPARE.
lively few people have seen them.
"Mrs. Thomas Bell has one of the
most valuable collections on the Coast.
The principal piece in it is magnificent
glrdle of diamonds, and the value of
her jewels is certainly not less than
$Ioo, 900, and perhaps much more.
"Mrs J. B. Haggin has probably the
finest ruby in America Ii weighs four
carats and is almost matchless. She
also has a fine assortment of diamonds
and some other good stones.
"The jewels of Mrs. Lloyd Tevis are
mostly diamonds, and some of the
gems are of the finest color and the
best cutting
next to the necklace of Mrs Stan.
ford the finest diamond necklace in
the city is that belonging to Mrs. James
d. Phelan. She picked it up in New
York at Tifany's, suppose.
"Mrs. Robert Johnson has two very
fine diamond necklaces, one of which has
a value entirely apart from the apprais-
ment of the stones, as it once belonged
to, and was once worn by the ex-
Empress Eugene. When Eugenie's
Jewels were sold in Paris my agent
bought this necklace and sent it out to
me- Mrs. Johnson purchased it in
short order. The stones are square, of
an unusual cut, and this added to their
associations, make them priceless.
Beyond this Mrs. Johnson has some
magnificent diamond pendants and
stars and great assortment of
miscellaneous stones. But she is a
woman of very quiet, refined tastes and
rarely wears her jewels. She keeps
them safely locked in the Safe Deposit
vaults, only taking them out when the
spirit moves her to admire them.
Mrs. Joseph G. Eastland has two
earrings of pearl-shaped diamonds
which are wellnigh priceless Mrs.
Eastland has a foundness for pearls.
sapphires and emeralds.
"There never was finer diamond
sold in the United States than one |
sold to A. T. Hatch, one of the Worlds
Fair Commissioners. 1t only weighed
little over two and a half karats, but
it was the finest gem ever saw 1t
brought $1,000, but is easily worth
$1,000. l often have regretted selling it,
but if | had worn it myself people
would have wanted one just like it for
$500. Here, for instance, is an excel
lent stone of about the same size, but it
is only worth $1,000. 1t is the color,
cutting and quality that count.
"The largest diamond ever sold on
this Coast wae one l sold to the late
Senator William Sharon. 1t weighed
sixty-eight karats and sold for sos,
$1,000 per karat. don't know what
has become of that big stone now.
Perhaps Lady Hesketh has it,
"Mrs. Michael Castle has splendid
set of earrings, brooches and bracelets
worked in the shape of shells. The
design is chaste and the stones good.
Mrs. Fred Castle has also a fine colec
ton of jewels.
Zone day, Mrs Thomas Sunderland
came to me and said, 4 want jewel
Casket Of quartz.
"'How much do you wish to spend
on itP asked.
"'Oh, somewhere about $4,000,
she replied. So had design made
and sent the casket after her to London.
Magnificent Beautiful = she cabled
when she received it. The manager OF
the Bank of England offered her ST.,
900 for it when he saw it, but she
wouldn't sell, and exhibited it at the
Paris Exposition of 1879. She has
collected a great many gems of rare
quality. Her daughter also has a
splendid collection.
IN. p. Perine, the btuminous rock
man, is one of the best experts in fine
stones in the country out OF the bust
ness. He has some glorious diamonds
and sapphires. Here's an eight-carat
sapphire he bought the other day and
left with me for safe-keeping. He's a
conn oisseur, and buys nothing but the
best-buying and putting the gems in
his pocket for his own qualification
Some of his blue diamonds are splen,
did specimens.
John Ballard, the mining man, also
has excellent taste in gemmary. His
wife has some rare turquoises and other
jewels. The other day he bought a
stone of IZs carats for $I,25o-he
knew the stones value. -Eraminey.
TOYS FOR GRoWN-UP PEOPLE
Among new TOYS for grown I'D people