JEWELS AND THEIR FLATTERS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 84, 7 January 1928, Page 22

JEWELS AND THEIR FLATTERS

DIAMONDS IN THE FIRST PLACE

The present vogue for imitation jewellery does not seem to have diminished the demand for real gems. The Jewellers are not all agreed about the stone that takes second, place in popular favour. A representative of one wellknown firm said it was the ruby, and that the recent love for emeralds had been short-lived; while another said emeralds were admired as much as ever. But they agreed that diamonds held pride of place. Everyone loves diamonds, and the fact that the supply is limited arbitrarily by the dealers instead of by their rarity has not affected their prestige. This seems to show that there is not much real romance in the liking people have for jewels. If there were they would feel that diamonds had lost some degree of their charm in being.so commercialised. The newest device is the flexible gold bracelets, made after the very old- ' fashioned snake bracelets. Otherwise there is nothing very novel', and people still prefer large jewels w-ith the very slightest setting, because 'this displays the full beauty of the gem. It is interesting to learn that jewellers are not very often asked to have old family jewels reset. For one thing the cost of such work has nearly trebled in recent years, and for another the stones would also have.to be recut,, for the style of cutting has changed. When a stone used to have, say, 32 facets, it would now have 64. So when a woman is tired of some piece of jewellery, she does not now have it remodelled, but she changes it for something more modish. That is one reason why a woman who can afford to pay a large sum for a real stone will not buv even the best imitation jewellery. She can always dis-

pose of the real stone, but the imitation jewellery has no second-hand value. /

"There is little demand for pearls,” said one jeweller. “The demand for fine pearls is much greater than the supply,” was the experience of another. Evidently one can continue with satisfaction to wear the looks-as-good-as-•real variety. Some of the new imitation jewellery is very pretty and the designs are excellent. Perhaps one would require a gaudy mind to appreciate the rococo work" that comes from Vienna, the many brightly, coloured stones combined iii one setting. On the other hand, the imitations of old Italian rings that are being made in Czecho-Slovakia are very attractive, and there is great variety of design. The stones, like those from Austria, are described as semiprecious topaz, aquamarine, and so on. The flexible gold bracelets and necklets are imitated in gilt, and there are long-looped earrings to match. One can also buv gilt knee-bracelets, flat narrow bands to be worn below the knee, and worn by quite nice young people, the jewellers say. In these departments they are selling long ropes of imitation pearls as fast as they can get them. The old-fashioned steel ornaments have come back in an improved form, made of a steel that is said not to tarnish. and more finely cut. The design of the bracelets, earrings, and of the brooches to be worn on the shoulder are verv good. But the colour'is cold, and though these things are very smart one feels sure thev would not appeal to a “vamp.”—B. L. in the “Manchester Guardian.”