The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1921-05-31
VICT|MIzED IN
BUYING JEWELS
Americans Often Tricked in the
Purchase OF Gems From
SWindIers Abroad.
COULD DO BETTER At HOME
Poorest Possible Gems and FIimslsst
Kind of JeweIry Offered to 0ul-
IlbIe Tourists at Ridicu-
lousy High Prices.

New York.-LarXe sums OF none.
were lost annually before the war b,
credulous American tourists victimixet
by irresponsible foreign dealers il
precious and semi-precious stones. No
much was heard of these losses out
side of the jewelry trade, however, fol
the travellers, when shown that they
had been the victims of misrepresenta
ton, usually had little to say about
their experiences. Now that foreign
travel, interrupted by the conflict
gives promise even Of exceeding the
pre-war mark, losses incurred in this
way become still larger unless the
warnings given to prospective tourists
are needed
The chances Of deception on the
part of the foreign dealers referred to,
according to julius Wodiska Of this
city, are greatly enhanced at the pres
ent time by stories, most of them ex-
aggerated, of the great flood of won
derful gems and jewelry set loose
throughout Europe. In this guise some
of the poorest possible gems and the
fiimsiest kind Of jewelry are already
being offered to the gullible traveller,
and when sales of this stuff are made,
Mr.. Wodiska asserted, the prices OBJ
.tained by the seller are ridiculously
high.
ut is a curious thing" he continued,
that, while Americans are every
where accredited with being the most
discriminating buyers of precious
stones and the better grades of jew
elry In the world, many of them can
readily be victimized abroad. These
unfortunate persons are easy prey for
willy dealers who seek their customers
in the hotel registers Of Paris, Lon
don and similar other big European
cities.
In the half century that have been
associated with the jewelry industry
have frequently heard men and wom-
en-, on the eve Of going abroad, as
sert confidentially We are going to
buy our diamonds and jewelry on the
other side They did-to their later
sorrow. They found that their bar
gains made a very sorry showing
when compared with jewelry manufac- |
tured in this country. In fact, most |
of the stuff they had bought at high |
prices, and had paid duty on In add
tion, was Of such character and quail
ity that there was no demand for 1t
here. The money invested in it would
have bought something a great deal
better right here at home.
"In no case were these purchases
made from responsible jewelry houses
In the European cities. There exists
in Europe however, a large number
IF easy money individuals Of suave
manner and pleasing address whe
make 1t their business to be reoAy
Sfth gold brick for American tour
SITS In the form of jewelry 'bargainA'
4 not unusual performance Of these
men Is to burst into tears because
heir necessities require them to sac
ifice family heirlooms II the price
s considered too high by the prospec-I
i've customer, the assertion Is usually
made that a still higher price had
een offered only little while before.
t is not said, however, that this Of
er was made by relative or friend.
r that 1t was made at the request Of
he seller to enable him to say truth
ully that he had had such an offer.
Alleged Crown JeweIo.
"As for alleged crown jewels that
lay be offered them. American tourists
hould keep In mind that, while gems
great value doubtless have been
DID as lost by their owners In vari-t
US countries, anything possessing real
alue and merit is bought up by the
ultimate merchants with capital
lOugh to do so. Really valuable ar
cles and stones are not peddled
'ound by irresponsible dealers. A
eat many of the gems handled by
ese dealers are known to the trade
J rejects which because Of their
,or quality are entirely unacceptable
the American gem-buying public
In every European city there are
sponsible jewelry houses Of the high
t repute, and if Americans prefer to
y 3ewelry abroad they will protect
cir own interests if they will patron
. only dealers Of that kind. But,
en- If they do, where is the econsmy7
ter they have paid the import duty
their purchases and the premium
insurance against loss or theft,
~ will find that they would have
ne better by buying in this country.
t only the price, but the quality, Of
, merchandise would be in favor Of
goods"