Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-28
ORIENTAL PEARLS.
Their Growing Scarcity Referred to BY
an Expert.

The Scarcity OF lne oriental pearl, 50
dear to the ladies' hearts, is becoming
a matter of deep concern to the trade,
though the general public is probably
unaware of the fact.
81 am sure that the general public
will be surprised to learn that the sup
ply Of oriental pearls has fallen off
within the past year at least 10 per
cent, and the price has advanced from
80 to 50 per cent" says Il dealer.
Whether the known pearl fisheries on
the world are giving out for good 4
cannot say, but certain it is that many
of these fisheries have Of late been
worked out; and as no new ones have
been discovered, the supply is CORE
spondingly lessened. If what remains
of the ocean pearl fisheries continues
TO give out as rapidly in the future az
in the immediate past it will become n
case of literal exhaustion, and real
oriental pearls will command about
their own price.
| IF | had $4,000 worth Of oriental
pearls | could sell them to the trade like
hot cakes on cold morning to q hum
cry man. We get some pearls from
Australia, but they are more silvely III
color than the Persian and Ceyl0n
pearls, ana the fisheries Of these latter
districts have been exhausted for sew
| cral years. Pearls are always in style
Most women attach a sentimentality
to pearls that they throw around no
other precious stone. II is the spark
| that catches the eye of the diamond,
fand it is the luster Of the real pearl
that has the same fascination to wo-
| men. Men do not especially care for
| pearls, nor do they appreciate them as
| gems.
pearls are graded by SIZE luster ana
color. black peacls being costly; yet !,
| as a jeweler, fail to see what there IS
| about the tabled black pearl that at
| tracts beyond its novelty. as the eN-
| 1uisite luster OF the white pearl is ab-
| sert The most expensive and rare
| pearl IS a true pink. There arc pearls
| # a pinkish hua but | have seen but
! one or two pink pearls in an experience
| If thirty years ana 4 true pink pearl
| he size Of single-c carat diamond is
| worth almost any pIice-say So0O0-
| ana * might be impossible to match ii.
| Pearls are, sold by the grain, five
| grain pearl being about the size Of "a
| -ingIe-carat diamond. One reason Why
they are so costly is the difficulty eX-
| nerienced in getting them to match
| for a necklace or 4 rope. 1t takes years
sometimes to secure perfectly
matched necklace Of from forty to sixty
| small pearls, or a larger string Of
| thirty. while an order for a diamond
necklace If almost any size ana price
| NAV be Iilled within a reasonable time.
| Glow are pearIs actually tested by
| icwelerso We'll. i'm several ways. but
| the best. in fact. The almost iufallible
| test to the expert. is called the mouth.
test. Tie minute a pearl is placed in
NV mouth | can detect thediffereuce Of
| -ha raal from determination. even though
the imitation may deceive the eye.
| There is apeculiar. delicate. gritty touch
to HE tongue ana teeth or the genuine
| 4hicb cannot b. initiated. The French
make imitation pearls 80 claverIy that
~ night few can tel whether the rope
ground nv Iadv's neck is the real or
the imitation. bur the mouth test would
show the difference if she desired to
sell them to a dealer. 1t is like the
skill Of tca-taster DISTINGUISHING be-
tween twenty different kinds Of tea
without error. while all teas taste about
like tn the lninitiated.