The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1921-01-04
Studies Psychology
OF Jewelry Sales
Lapidary Says Purchase of Engage
ment Ring Gives Material For Mar
rage Life Forecast.

NEW YORK N. Y.-There is no
business that furnishes better oppor-
tunity to study human psychology
than that of selling jewelry, according
to William Barthman, who for more
than quarter of century has had
a shop in Maiden Lane, the diamond
center of America.
Zone can invariably forecast the
married life OF couple by their atti-
tude when they come in to buy the
engagement ring" he said today.
at is easy to tell which will domi-
nate after the wedding ceremony from
their actions during the purchase. If
she makes the selection and fixes the
price you may depend upon it that
she will make most of the decisions
after they are married, and vice versa.
1t is also possible to tell whether she
will be thrifty or a spendthrift."
Barthman cited an instance of
young couple who came in to buy
diamond solitaire. The youth very del
icately let his sweetheart understand
that he did not feel able to pay more
than $500 or $500. But every ring she
decided upon was valued at ST 200 to
81, 500. They finally compromised on
one costing about $780, about twice
what he had intended to pay.
"And if | had been that young man
would have been tempted to call it
off right there" the gray-haired jew
eler declared.
Barthman was asked how the aver
age young man determines the size
OF the engagement ring.
well, a few of them bring their
fances right in to try it on" he re-
piled Some obtain from us card
board arrangement to fix the size.
Others knot a string about her fin
ger, or try one of the rings she already
has on one of their fingers. But the
great majority just guess at it-and
usually guess wrong. Most of those
who guess select ring too large, prob
ably assuming they will be on the safe
side when it comes to readJusting it.
But it is just as easy to make a ring
larger as it is to make it smaller"
What does the average young man
buy his sweetheart, in the way of jew
elry and what does the average mar
ried man buy his wife?
Barthman said that gold or silver
meshbags are the most popular gift
during the courtship period, with gold
bracelets and pearl opera glasses rum
ming a close second. After marriage
the woman usually demands a pearl
necklace or diamond and platinum
bracelet, and gets it.
Gifts for children are generally in
the form of ring, bracelet or pin.
When women make gifts to men
they generally select scarf pin or a
cold fountain pen
IT'S interesting to watch the devel-
opment of young couples courtship
and marriage" Barthman said. "A
young man will come in and bay some
small present, such as a brooch, cost
ing SIS or $40. A few months later
he will make little more expensive
gift. Then, as birthdays and Christ
mas arrive, he increases the value of
his gifts until finally the engagement
ring is bought. Next is the wedding
ring. After this there is a cessation of
three or four years. They are spending
all their money furnishing a home and
making start. If he is successful in
business this period will be followed
by one OF far more expensive pres
ents."
Barthman said the expected slump
in jewelry sales, looked for long ago,
had not yet become apparent.
LONG FAST OF RIRDS