The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-02

would be set according TO the depigns
chosen. the work would be guaranteed
the old settings would " paid TOR,
making the net price for the ring 90.
The woman didn't care to ask the nan
what the wholesale price was. but she in
quired gently II he did any work for the
big shops. He explained that he had a
monopoly Of the work, as he was the only
n who made these rings, which 1t seems
are a Chicago product. Of fourteen carat
gold and 30 closely resembling the carved
rings Of the same sort hat are made abroad
by hand that Il would require an expert
TO distinguish them.
He explained many things o the
jewelry business that we're interesting,
especially in regard TO the repair work,
which frequently goes from the lar e es-
adjustment to the small s OPP in an out
OF the way street.
Skilled workmen are constantly leaving
h big places and setting up for them
selves in modest quarters. n holding the
goodwill OF their former employers they
continue TO do the mending work which
has become a specially with them. At
his own shop q man will set a ring for S.
which, when IL passes from his hands into
the big shop, costs i've times as much.
The profits of the jewelry business" he
explained. have been greater in the past
b at present; and yet more people,
that 10 all kinds Of people. buy jewelry
nowadays. But there is n fashion for the
imitation jewels. which arc made 80 per-
fectly now that they look exactly like the
real stones.
The possession of jewelry used to mean
something in the old times, n a woman
treasured things that belonged to her grand
mother rather than wear articles Of newer
fashion. But the jewelry Of to-day changes
in style like the shape Of hats, and for that
reason the manufactured stones are pre-
ferred by many who could afford to buy
the real ones.
Nothing gets to be such a care and a
responsibility to a woman as n valuable
collection Of jewels. for the gem thieves will
follow up a famous necklace or a tiara for
year until they get a nance at II. Women
are always losing their jewels, or getting
robbed, through carelessness.
As to the matter Of high prices in the
big shops there are plenty Of people who
would do all their buying at a smart store
even II prices we're double what they are.
They are not compelled to buy there,
you know; and if they do so II is because
they are satisfied with the treatment they
get. II they can afford Il there is no reason
why they should not pay high prices for
what they buy.
But TO the ordinary buyer. who thinks
that the famous shop will deal more fairly
with him or give him better value, / should
say that he will find the very same article
often at a small pARce for half or a third
the price asked in the big place.
This ia the case in regard to watches
IA well "a diamonds and other jewels. Yet
you will often hear n man say, u bought
that watch at So-and-So's and paid so
much for IL, and ] guess il ought TO be a
good one II is a good one. undoubtedly;
but he could get the very same watch for
half the money, except that II would not
have the fGmous name on the Ease.
1T IL Guite different. Of course, in certain
lines of goods hat are bought abroad by
buyers for firms that pride themselves
on exclusivcRess of design and have
a reputation for collecting fine stones.
such a firm sends a buyer over each year
and he brings back articles that cannot
be duplicated.
Hand carved rings are very expensive.
and an ordinary seal ring Of that kind will
cost SOS TO $50. The beauty Of the carved
ring il that you Possess the only one II the
kind, supposedly. They paw more atten-
ton to those things abroad han we do.
I'm New York a design hat takes in
iewelIy. as in everything Else. will sell.
People come in and ask for things similar
to these they have seen some one else wear.
Popularity il the thing thai We are after
when We choose designs. rather than ex-
clusiveness."