Evening journal., 1919-07-25
JEWELRY BOOM
IS AT ITS HEIGHT
More Aodrnments and Sill
veIwwaEre veIwwaEre Being Sold
Than Ever
WAR WEDDINGS
ONE OF THE CAUSES

More jewelry and sllverware have
been sold during the last year and a
\ half than ever before in a like period,
declare many OF the retail jewelry deal
ers. They attribute this TO the unusual
number Of persons earning hitherto un-
dreamed Of salaries in some war IN
! dustry.
Stories are told Of delivery-men
searching earnestly for addresses on
side streets TO deliver silver services
or diamond rings, and OF stout cooks
who invest In silverrbacked combs and
brushes. However. such stories are
usually an exaggeratlon. Other firms
say their old customers are for some
unknown reason buying more gener-
ously than formerly and that, too, the
large transient population since the
war has not hesitated TO spend
War weddings, which occurred In
such numbers, particularly last year,
have also caused large purchases OF
silver as gifts, as well as the purchase
Of hundreds OF wedding and engage
ment rings.
During the war the craze for plati-
mum ornaments had to suffer as long
was needed for high explosives, hence
many little brides had TO utilize melted
platinum pins as wedding rings If their
hearts were set on having that metal.
Though platinum, unlike geld and sill /
yer, has no traditional value, and Is |
not mentioned In the Bible in de-
s6rlptions Of the Queen OF Sheba, or |
the glory Of Solomon. 10 has for the |
last 10 years been used to a large ex-
tent for wedding and engagement rings, |
not to mention bar pins.
Perhaps the daintlest and most deslr-
able wedding ring Is that Of a narrow
hoop Of platinum set all around with
10 harmonlzes with the dia-
mond OF the engagement ring II also
may be perfectly plain or dellcately
chased. Gold wedding rings however,
are still popular II not too heavy. Oc-
'aslonally two rings are ordered at the
same time, the dealers says, one for the
bride and one for the groom, though a
iOuble ring ceremony Is Latin rather
han American. Some independent lit
lie brides have inaugurated the custom
)f being married with their mothers
ing, which is then returned TO her and
!
bride. But the question is, I'm this case,
what would the next generation do2"
True love" has so long been symbo-
lied by the diamond solitaire that
there is no use trying to oppose 1t. It
seems to have come to stay. The most
worn engagement ring today is the
held by four clamps in
platinum setting Of flligree work, with
a few very small diamonds around the
shank
Odd-shaped rings as engagement rings,
or rings with the diamond outlined"
ny a narrow line OF sapphlres, diamond |
clusters, diamonds combined with |
other precious stones, princess rings.
and so on, are not now much worn as
engagement rings.
No startlingly new patterns have
been announced in silver plate. though
he fall designs are not yet exhibited
'iore favor has been shown plain silver |
ately, though retrOusse and engraved
re still bought. The May flower pat
arn Of 100 years ago holds its own.
Articles most popular this season are
lamond flexible bracelets pearl neck
ces, which on account Of their sim
LEFTY can be worn on almost any Oc-
lslon; gold mesh bags and bar pins
ne Of the most artistic bits Of jewely
splayed In the Wilmington shops Is
bow-knot pin Of Oriental sapphlres
Id diamonds. So excellent Is the de-
gn and the workmanship that it gives
e effect Of a bow Of blue-striped sill
r ribbon tied in a graceful bow. The
pphires were cut and keyed IN so
at there is no open work between
EN-. On the knot Of the bow Is a
'ge diamond.