JEWELS OF RARE PRICE WORN BY SOCIETY WOMEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12660, 14 September 1904, Page 1 (Supplement)

JEWELS OF RARE PRICE WORN BY SOCIETY WOMEN.

i The riches of Mayfair are never more plainly 'proved than by the _ jewels of its women. Tiaras are the rule and not the exception; every bride expects at least a couple. But it seems not improbable that another and lighter form of diamond headgear will come into fashion, ;•'■_ The Marchioness of Granny has several times worn a net of diamonds; \ the beautiful 'Lady Beatrice Pole-Curew wears a bandeau of brilliants, and the young Duchess of Roxburche appeared at a dinner this season with wings of diamonds in her dark hair. Diamond shoulder straps are among , the latest modes. They have been! adopted by Princess Henry of Pless, the Duchess of Marlborough, and the Hen. Mrs. Ivor Guest. Mrs. Ivor Guest bis worn as a charming substitute for the orthodox tiara a pair of diamond leaves, the tips of the leaves meeting above her 'brew. Coloured stones seem rapidly increasing in popular favour. Rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and even amethysts have been greatly to the fore during the past six months. In this tbey are unconsciously imitating the Court of St." Petersburg,, as the women of the Russian aristocracy are far more noted for their coloured stones than for their pearls and diamonds. ■ ;; ■: - ;' FINE RUBIES. ' The Duchess Marie of Saxe-Coburg Gotha possesses, some of the finest rubies in the world. Among other owners of splendid rubies are the Countess of Dudley, the Countess of Stradbroke, Mrs. Bradley Martin, Mrs. Arthur James, and Lady Wimborne, who often wears a famous single stone of great value, known as the " Hope* ruby. Glorious emeralds are the pride, of the jewel cases of many well-known, women, among others the Countess of Londesborough, Countess of Carnarvon, Lady Sherborne, whose emeralds were once the property of the late Princess Mary Duchess of Teck, Lady Ludlow, the Hon. Mrs. Ronald Greville, Mrs. Arthur Paget, and Mrs. Kenneth Wilson. r - Opals, deemed once unlucky, are fast returning to favour. The Countess of Beauchamp owns a complete parure of opals set in ; diamonds; and Lady Norah Hely-Hut-chinson is another frequent wearer of the " October " jewel. The Countess of Lichfield possesses a fine set of amethysts, and Adeline Duchess of Bedford wears an ornament of pansies formed of fine cabochon amethysts. SAPPHIRES AND DIAMONDS. Sapphires bold their own. Georgina Countess of Dudley has a splendid set of sapphires and diamonds, and Mrs. DArcy possesses a notable necklace of diamonds and huge, square sapphires. Turquoises are less valuable, but have a beauty all their j own. Princess Henry of Pless, the Marchioness Camden, the Countess of Wicklow, Lady Hothfield, and Mrs. Cavendish-Ben-tinck all have magnificent turquoises. The finest single diamonds known to the world of May fair society are the "Star of South Africa" which belongs to the Countess of Dudley, a great diamond called the " Neska," worn by the Duchess of Westminster, and the "Portland" diamond, a big, square stone, worth £10,000, which now shines in the all-round crown of the Duchess of 1 Portland.