Jewelry Deception in Washingon D.C.?

Seen in a gossip column from an April 1890 newspaper, discussing Washington DC society...

"I have heard of women hiring jewelry, but I do not believe this prevails to any great extent here. There is an immense deal of shoddy worn, and half the brilliants you see at a White House reception are rhinestones. The stones worn by Senator's wives and millionaires' daughters are supposed to be pure, but who can tell? The fact that they wear them would, if they were paste, make them pass current, and the better class of imitation stones are so fine that it is now impossible for any but a dealer to detect the false from the true"