Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-21
BOGUS GEMS ARE COMMON
so WELL MADE AS TO DEFY DETEC
TION EXCEPT BY EXPERTS.
BY Using Them a Lavish Display Ii
POssible-False and Real Pearls
on Same String.


From the New York Press.
In the lavish display of jewels affected by
women of fashion there is a barbaric mag
nificence that is Impressive, whatever one
may think of it from the point of refine
ment. Fortunes are invested in rings, col
lars tiaras pendants and every sort of jew
eled ornament that can add to the splendor
of woman's toilet and dazzle the behold
ers. The wearing of conspicuous gems is
not confined to the ball room or the opera,
but everywhere on the street, in promiscu-
Gus gatherings. by day well as by night,
the flash and glitter of gems and precious
stones are seen. few years ago such dis
play would have been considered the height
of vulgarity; today it passes unchallenged.
But although jewels of fabulous prices are
worn with reckless profuSiOn. all the stones
that sparkle are not diamonds. There are
many poorer kinsmen of the aristocratic
gems that have come into favor along with
the rage for display and help to augment
the gorgeousness in which their superiors
take the lead. Moreover. the most lordly of
precious stones are initiated with a clever
ness that has not been approached hereto
fore. and even those who are rich enough
to own the real thing do not hesitate to
mingle the pretended article with that
which ii seeks to initiate.
New Make of Bogus Pearls.
One of the things that always has been
considered most difficult to counterfeit is
the pearl the only substitute that resem-
bled the original enough to deceive any one
but the merest tyrO heretofore being the
Roman pearls, which were beautiful at first;
but did not wear we'll owing to the wax in
their composition. that causes them to melt
from the heat of the body. Recently. how
ever, new process has been perfected by a
French manufacturer which turns out
pseudo pearls OF such quality as to defy
detection by any but experts, fish scales
and silver being used in their composition.
SO closely do they resemble the genuine
that they have been strung In alienation
with them without betraying their secret
Pearls are so highly priced and many
can be worn without OVERRIDING the matter
that even those women who can afford
necklaces and collars costing thousands of
dollars are fain to add to their collection
Few additional strands al a more moderate
price. These French pearls are not SO very
cheap, either. string of them of no great
pretensions costs about $50. If it were of
real pearls 1t would cost at least ten times
that amount, however. In great many
cases the pearl eardrops that my lady wears
are these clever limitations. If the stone has
been pierced for the setting one may be
pretty sure that 1t is the counterfeit, for
the real pearl is seldom pierced, the aim
being to preserve it intact and to show
that 1T is so.
"Dinmonds" That Don't Cost Much.
markable French pearls brings over rhine
stones OF great brilliancy and beauty which
easily may be mistaken for diamonds They
are used extensively for belt buckles and
other clasps for brooches, for combs for
the little pins for catching up stray locks
at the back of the hair and even for rings.
popular fancy is to mix imitation and real
stones, for example, well-counterfeited
pearl with real diamonds seudo da-
monds and real pearls This is only carry
Ing to the extreme the tendency to enrich
an already profuse decoration OF expensive
ornaments by deftly arranging among them
ornaments of a less costly character that
will not suffer by contrast with the preci-
Gus stones and Will add to the richness Of
the effect The whole front of a rich even
ing gown mar be embiazoned in this way
without giving hint Of the economy prac
ticed.
Among the recent importations by the
most prominent dealer in semiprecious and
hgh-grade limitations of real gems are
some magnificent dog collars. consisting Of
six or more strings of medum-siZed pearls
with clasps of brilliant stones set in silver
platinum, the whole making rich and
effective collaret costing from 500 to $500,
whereas IL II were what 1t seems to be 1t
would cost from $4,000 to $4,000. The
pendants TO be worn on a small gold chain.
which are much approved by fashion, are
initiated skilfuly. even to the pear-shaped
pearl OF conspicuous size which is seen in
many of them.
Jewe1-Studded Belts.
Some new belt buckles are extremely
beautiful. having morning glory some
other flower design in natural colors In
closed in a cirClet of diamonds" These
buckles cost from SO up and are warranted
to keep their brilliancy and color fndefi-
nitely. Similar designs are shown in slides
for neck velvet or ribbon.
Large hearts composed of small imitation
diamonds are popular and can be bought
for as little as s25 or as much $50
Scintillating butterflies can be had for about
the same price. Emeralds can be imita ted
excellently, but opals, with their elusive
lights. have baffied the most cunning coun-
terfeiters of gems.
Turquoises are creeping into fashion again,
both in combination and other Jewels. and
by themselves in strings for the neck and
similar Brooches consisting of fine.
small miniatures painted on mother of
pearl and set in imitation diamonds are
finding their way here from Paris, where
they are much worn.