|
FIRE IN THE EARTH
|
||
|
|
||
|
club
'patterned after the four erstwhile diamond clubs of Antwerp, which
were to the diamond dealers of that famous city what stock exchanges
are to the stockbrokers of America, It is located in West 42nd Street,
in one of New York's luxurious tower buildings just off Fifth Avenue.
Membership, including both Belgian refugees and some of the well-known
names in the New York diamond trade, is more than 450. No firm members
are permitted—only individuals. There are diamond-weighing machines,
seals, and other necessary paraphernalia, and the purpose of the club
is to establish reliable trading practices among the independent
dealers. There is even an arbitration board for the settlement of
disputes.
These
places are not to be confused with the so-called "sidewalk counters,"
to be found in downtown New York, which form the ragged fringe of a
proud industry. There you will find many small cubicles, each with just
enough room to wave one's arms around and to contain a small showcase.
The dealers get most of their supplies by buying up pieces of set
jewelry, breaking them up, and selling the diamonds. This jewelry
usually comes from the pawnshops, where they have not been redeemed, or
from the auctions of estates. The settings are sold for their metal
value.
To
these places come smaller buyers looking for cheap bargains. The
important wholesale, importing, and cutting establishments will have
nothing to do with them. Yet even there the curious thing 'known as
"faith," so typical of the industry, will be found. A buyer may decide
he likes certain stones. If the dealer knows him, all the buyer has to
say is: "I'll take these and send you a check." That is all. Faith.
The same faith goes all the way back to the importer. He may have a diamond for which he is asking $100,000.
|
||
|
|
||
|
_a
|
||
|
|
||