BUYING PEARLS "OUT OF INCOME''
AN
interesting and profitable way of coming by a good string of pearls is
to buy them singly or in pairs, or, at any rate, a few at a time when
occasion arises.
It
is without doubt the best way for those who have the leisure, the
patience, and the inclination for such a task; and it should have a
special appeal for parents who want to present a pearl necklace to
their daughter on her coming-of-age, for young husbands who cannot lay
out a large sum of money at a time upon their brides, or for ladies who
are thinking of buying a pearl necklace out of income for themselves. A
pearl necklace, thus collected, provided that due care has been
exercised in the selection of its units both as to quality and value,
will represent an appreciation of at least 50 per cent, in excess of
the original investment.
But
apart from this, such a necklace would possess for the owner a
sentimental value far beyond that of the made-up necklace bought after
a few minutes' cursory inspection on the recommendation of a jeweler.
Each unit would be dated, each would have a special history of its own,
a tale to tell of happy hours, and in this way it would be a beautiful
reminder of outstanding occasions in the life of the wearer.
To
do anything properly, one must, of course, work to a definite plan.
Before the architect, for instance, prepares his plans he must know
whether they are to be for a cathedral, a chapel, a palace, or a
cottage. Everything too is bounded by price. And so it is here.
The
first thing to fix on, therefore, is the total amount that is intended
to be spent and the period over which payments are to be spread. For
the sake of illustration, it can be assumed that a total outlay of
$3,750.00 is intended to be spread
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