Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-02-19
BUYING DIAMONDS.
A STORY OF HOW WOMEN CONDUCT
THE TRANSACTION.

GDC
Other In That Respect-Error Reg.rdiu
| the Standard Value Of Diamonds.
To the private Office of prominen
3eweler yesterday entered middle age
woman, richly caparisoned in founc
and furbelow, and evidently formin
part Of the dough that makes the uppe
crust. She held in one hand damon
earring. The jewel was large and bril-
liant. With entire coolness of demeano
she said: II lost the mato to this. vii
you be kind enough to tell me what i
will cost to get another exactly like it?'
The jeweler eyed her keenly and ther
said, Madam, where did you lose you,
earring?"
The effect of this simple question
upon the woman was surprising. She
was evidently unprepared for the query,
and there was certainly something in it
that disturbed her. cit makes no differ.
ence where I lost it, :" she answered in a
decidedly sharp tone ''What will it
cost me to obtain another exactly like
this?" and she held up the sparkling
stone.
"Did you advertise for the one you
lost, madam?'' persisted the jeweler
blandly.
"What has that got to do with the
matter?" she replied in an angry tone.
"Well, madam" was the smiling re-
ply, IF you advertise for the earring
which you lost, you might recover it,
and then you would not be placed under
the necessity of ascertaining what it
would cost to replace it. Advertise first,
madam, and if you do not recover the
Jewel come in again and will answer
your questions - Saying this the dia-
mond dealer politely bowed the now
fretting and fuming woman to the door.
"Why will women lie in such small |
AFFAIRS" " said the jeweler wearily, "and !
why will nearly every purchaser Of a
diamond look upon the merchant with
whom he or she deals as rascal? That
woman hasn't lost an earring. She has
purchased pair. perhaps on trial, and
she will go to nearly every jeweler in
town with that petty lie and endeayor
to get price upon that stone. It is one |
Of the finest of diamonds and eyidentlyI
came from one of our leading dealers,
whom she insists Oh believing is engaged
N scheme to rob her. The chances are
hat she will eventually get in the hands |
II some unscrupu1ous merchant, whom
The can find even in big stores. He will
ell her that the stone is off color
md contains flaw. He will show her
poor diamond Of the same size as thei
'ther, and fix upon it price which he
lnows is less than the fine brillianti
ould be sold for. The result will be that
madam will send her fine brilliant backl
q rage and buy the inferior stone for
vice what it is worth. This evil has
rown to such an extent that it is some
lines Impossible to detect the fraudu-
ant character Of the stories brought us.
hey are all very ingenious. AS re-
nit, big houses, except in rare cases, re-
use to place prices upon jewels brought
} them.''
The jeweler continued: "People have
1e queerest notions about diamonds and
ther jewels, and some of them give us
luch trouble. The most general delu-
on is that diamonds have standard
alue just as arbitrarily fixed as that of :
double eagle. You will frequently hear
eople say, 1t is. an excellent invest
ent to place your money in fine dia-
onds, for they are worth just SO much
carat, and you can always sell them
r just what ycu paid for them. MyI
dy buys handsome brooch for $500,
I'd after wearing it year or two en-
'avors to sell it to her jeweler, or, per-
Fps, to his rival She is offered $500
r it. She then throws up her hands
I'd lifts up her voice and protests that
Q has been swindled What nonsense !.
all this With diamonds, as with 9TH
merchandise, stone is worth exactly
nat 1t will bring We're it otherwise
ere could be no proftin diamond deal
8. How could make money in selling
uble eagles when would have to pay
o for them aud could not sell them
: penny more?
dere Is very tine Indian brilliantI
on my finger. I bought it at forced
e and paid nearly $500 for it. Yes :
day l was offered ST. 800 for it, but
'uld not sell because am in love with
stone. Yet I cannot say that the
ne is worth $1,000. 1t was worth it
the time that sum was offered for it :.
one who wanted it, but if I were
npelled to sell it next week at "a =
1rs' notice I might not get 5000 for =
Why should a woman expect to wear ,.
rooch for two years and then obtain
it the same money she paid for it? y y
IT week bought new carriage and =
d 81, 800 for it, I said to friend. =
me and take an $500 drive with me- :.
looked at me as if he thought me in =
9. i mean it., said. There is a car
90 that cost me 4l. 800. We will drive q a
t through the park. Tomorrow I will VI
be able to obtain 81 900 for it. With a
ely it is much the same way. - 81
ladelphia Times. a
tt
ms suDrerruge. l.,
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