lustrum again

[Sam Clements]

Not sure what Latinum is.  I think lustrum as used in rings is a form of
stainless steel and always that color.  I always joke with the seller, and
tell them that their ring unfortunately isn't made out of gold, but rather
"Kryptonite."

Sam Clements

----- Original Message -----
From: "Joel S. Berson" <Berson at ATT.NET>
To: <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2006 5:46 PM
Subject: Re: lustrum again


> At 10/16/2006 04:29 PM, you wrote:
>>I've been using the word "lustrum" for about 25 years now.    But in my
>>capacity of buying class rings from the public.
>>
>>When the price of gold skyrocketed in 1979/1980, Jostens and other ring
>>makers had to come up with something cheaper.  Lustrum.  A white metal
>>used
>>to make class rings.
>
> I thought that was gold-pressed Latinum -- or is Latinum dearer than gold?
>
> Joel
>
>
>>Thanks for the older meaning.
>>
>>Sam Clements
>>
>>------------------------------------------------------------
>>The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>
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> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
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