New-York tribune., 1922-12-31
Jewelry Trade
Faces New Year
With Small Stocks
Regarded as a Healthy Con-
dition; Advances in Dia-
mond Prices Are Seen;
Outlook Good for 1923

EEWELRY business generally
showed an improvement In the
" last quarter Of 1922. The
Christmas buying season was, in
most cases. up to expectations Not
few sales, however, were lost be-
cause Of the inability Of manufac-
turers, wholesalers and retailers to
supply articles demanded. The trade
generally faces the new year with
depleted stocks, which Is a healthy
condition.
Business in the higher priced lines
Of jowclry was generally brisk, accord
ing to Z. J. Case, Of Dreieer 4 Co.,
Fifth Avenue retailers.
Avenue merchants" Mr. Case said,
"hsd the biggest December in the last
seven years. The future lookl promis-
ing. for money seems 20 be freer. col
loetions are better and there Is less
loss Of customers due TO bad credit
accounts"
Business on small articles OF the
better grade was 25 per cent ahead Of
1921, according 10 T. William Barth-
man, OF William Barthman, downtown
retail jeweler. "Most OF the sales for
medium priced articles showed that
a large portion Of the buying public
had not yet reached the stage OF full
prosperity period, and the prospects
FOR retail jewelry Of the better quality
in 1923 appear TO be very bright" Mr.
Barthman said.
Wholesale jewelry business during
1922, especially the second half OF the
year, showed a very substantial I'M
provement over the preceding year,
according 70 Jonas Koch, wholesale
"Retail sales" Mr. Koch said. "in-
creased between 20 and 40 per cent
and as a result collections from retail
ers we're materially better in Deem
Der. Wholesalers expect good eoliee-
tions as a result Of the large Christ-
mas business done by retailers.
Business frightened up considerably
during the last six weeks OF 1877 be-
cause retailers did not buy suhieiient
merchandise up 70 that time according
TO Henry Korones, OF korones BROS
Wholesale jewelers.. "Jewelry 30 far as
the wholesaler and manufacture is
concerned" Mr.. Korones declared
will be better In 1923 than the preVi-
Gus year because retailers stocks bre
depleted and they will be compelled 70
buy large stock FOR requirements
jewelry manufacturers expect good
business in 1923. according 20 Abraham
shiman Of Shimsn-Miller Manufhetur-
ing Company. - believe that jewellers
will do a splendid business IN 1879
said Mr. Shiman. but they VIII have 70
steady themselves a bit and watch Tor
new Tendencies. Our spring orders are
as big as We ever had. which bespcaks
we'll for the future. There "a trend
toward white gold even in the popular
priced lines, which has become 20
marked that most houses that have
never before carried IL will manufac-
ture white gold jewelry in 1923. There
is a decided tendency 20 buy better
quality merchandise. but there has
been no marked advance In jewelry
prices generally"
The diamond business In approach
ing normalcy has caused the absorP-
tion OF distressed merchandise, accord
ing 70 Lee Reiehman. president OF
Reichman Brothers, importers Of dia..
monds. 'The advance IN raw material
In conjunction with the higher rate of
exchange and also the increased cost
OF labor is naturally reflected In the
finished product, therefore diamonds
will cost moro in 1929" asserted Mr.
Reichman. "'The Federal Reserve Re
View showed that diamonds was The
second commodity 20 register great
improvement in 1922. ] am satisfied
that stocks Of diamonds are AZ low ebb
and that dealers will have TO replace at
considerably higher levels
The year just closed was a normal
one, with some drawbacks. however, be-
cause people do not yet have full con
fdence in the business outlook, accord
ing TO Frank Jeanne. president OF
William S. Hedges 4 CO.. diamond i'm
porters. Following bad times, there
Is always a demand for cheaper goods,
Mr. Jeanne said. "but the general inn
provement in business has already
called forth a demand for finer quality
stones. Tae stocks in this country
are rather depleted, due to eonserva-
tive buying, which Is a healthy eondi-
tion. Diamond merchants are looking
for improved buying in 1923"