New-York tribune., 1919-03-30
Gem Trade Booms
As War Shadow Is
Lifted; Money Easy
Diamond Prices Skyrocket
as Luxury Lovers Make
Up Lost Time; Silver
smiths Share Prosperity

Jewelry buying, a practice that was
frowned upon by New Workers of all
classes as about the most unpatriotic
way good money needed for winning
the war could possibly be spent, has
been resumed, and to an extent un-
dreamed of before the war. Of all the
luxury trades, jewelry was hit the
hardest by the war. To-day manufact-
urers are months behind on their
orders.
There never was such a demand for
first class goods of all descriptions,
particularly diamonds. Those gems
are 10 and in some cases even 30 per
cent higher than they were before the
Kaiser struck out for world dominion
1t is the same story in the gold and
sllverware trade. just as soon as the
armstice was signed the boom began.
The Christmas business surprised the
trade. The June output is expected
almost to double any previous record
The month of marriages has always
favored the jewellers and the silver
smiths. With about million soldiers
back home, next June will be ton
notcher for brides.
New York is the centre of the iobbing
and retail trade. Fifth Avenue and
Maiden Lane salesrooms are crowded
with buyers. According to D. A. David
son, president of the National Jewellers
Board Of Trade, the whole country,
especially the agricultural and indus
trial districts, is buying diamonds A
little matter of a per cent luxury
tax is mere bagatelle. AS one jobber
expressed it:
"Through no fault Of his own the
American business man has had to take
his share Of the gold that was poured
into the country before 1917 and since
then the government has been liberal
spender. Since last November that
money has been burning a hole in his
pocket. To help matters along, his
good wife has been literally starving
for diamond or two, or pearl neck
lace"
According to Joseph D. Little, man
ager for the Gorham Company, II
Maiden Lane, this prosperity Of the
silver trade is running into other lines,
like bronze and 1ehther.
"We ats simply deluged with orders
for bfonze memorials. Our fnctores
have been enlarged ard we ARE SIX
months bahnd, Our lenther factories
are begging for slH months time, and
lt's the same way with our stained glass
business" he haid,
Getting diamonds to New York from
Antwerp and Amsterdam has been made
difficult by acarcity of labor in the
South African mines, aggravated by a
terrific epidemic of influenza there.
Then. too, the mines as they grow
deeper, yield fewer stones. 1t isA the
great demand, though, that causes the
prices to go sky-rocketing.
According to Mr.. Davidson, all Eu-
rope is buying in the Amsterdam and
Antwerp markets, yes, even Bolshe-
vik-ridden Russia. Latest advices from
Amsterdam Indicate there are as many
German and Austrian buyers as of
other nationalitics. All this leads OBJ
servers in New York to believe the
people Of the Central Powers who have
come through the war with money are
quietly placing it in portable invest
ment form.
Inquiry yesterday among the Fifth
Avenue and Maiden Lane retailers
showed they are too busy to talk. And
the prophets say the era Of prosperity
has only just begun.