The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-11
THE DIAMOND CLUB.
A London Organization Where Prec-
iOus Gems Change Hands.

| Prom the LONDON ENpfess)
This is an age for clubs. Each profess
| sion, almost every calling. has its own
particular club where members can meet
one another or their friends, dine, read
| the newspapers, transact business or play
| games of some sort The majority of the
clubs are well known, II only by name, but
very few have even heard of the Diamond
| Merchants Club, in Hatton Garden.
The name speaks for itself 1t is called
the Diamond Club-or to give il its full
name. the Diamond Merchants and Jew
elleTs' Club. Limited-and the chief requi-
site for membership Is that the newcom-
er should be concerned with or in The dia-
mond trade. Hatton Garden is a busy
thoroughfare, and seems to reek of dia-
monds SO to speak. The principal room
Of the Diamond Club has a half glass roof
which lets in glare of light on the trans
actions which take place. In this room
may be seen more millionaires at one time
than in any other spot in the world. An
ether room is cunningly darkened so as
to give relief to tired eyes
One member may be reading a news
paper when another comes over and tells
him he wants few diamonds, explaining
the kind, etc. The first man will imme-
diately give him two or three little paper
packets TO Inspect, naming the price, and
the second man will take them over 10
the window, while the first will calmly
continue reading his paper
The first man is probably broker who
has obtained the diamonds from a mer-
chant. and he has certain price from
which he cannot abate. If the purchaser
considers the price fair and the stones
good he will suggest that they go into
one of the little partitions or cubicles
which are set apart for this purpose.
These little divisions face the light-for
IL Is absolutely necessary to have bright
light, very little business being done on
dull day-are fitted up with shelf and
pair of scales and when the small bolt
is slipped on the door the buyer and seller
are free from any interruption.
The scales are in a glass case for the
slightest bit of dust would affect the
delicate mechanism, single hair making
difference in the working OF this Won
derful little continuance. The largest
weights are made of metal. but the others
from a kind of tinsel so light that a
breath will blow them away. Some idea
may be gathered of their minuteness when
one realizes that the smallest one only
weighed the sixtyfourth part of a karat!
For the purpose of showing up the beau
ties of the stones they are laid on differ
ent colored papers-blue for pearls, black
for onals etc.
The club was originally started by two
men who had at last realized that it was
not safe to hold these business conferences
In public house, which had hitherto been
the custom II was such a success that
the members soon bought out the pro-
prietors and turned il into n limited liza
bility company. 1t has progressed so rap
idly that it has quite recently moved into |
new premises. which the president OF the |
club. II. Bernhard, was most courteous
in showing me over.
Mr.. Bernhard Is the diamond merchant |
from whom most of our great actors and |
actresses buy their diamonds. and it |
speaks well for him that when they have |
once been to him they never go auyhere |
else.
Many of the members Of the Diamond |
Merchants Club are foreigners although |
many Englishmen are among the number.
Dominos and cards are provided, but no
game of cards is allowed before o'clock |
ind then only solo whist may he played
he slightest tendency TO gamble being !
strictly prohibited.
This is perhaps the only club that opens
md shuts early, for very few others open
It 10 in the morning and close at at
light. Perhaps the members consider 1t
wiser to deposit their wares in some safer
,lace than a pocket before nightfall; what
.ver the reason, the lights are out, the
loors shut, and everything is quie, when
,ther mems clubs are just beginning TO
,e alive.