Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-11-30
MAKING PEARLS CHEAP
BY Frederic J. Ha.kin

Washington, Nov. 5o.--The true
pearl, formed by the wild oyster, is
having a hard time competing with
less aristocratic pearls.
First, the Japanese produced cti-
turcd pearl that differs from the true
pearl only In one respect. In the Wild
mussel. the pearl is the result Of an
irritation, generally a bit Of sand or a
parasitic worm, which accidentally
gets inside the shell. In the cultured
pearl. the irritating substance Is Inn
planted.
After years Of experiment a Jap
anese succeeded In 80 introducing this
irrltant that the patient oyster would
build as perfect pearl round II ~
II the irritant had accidentally slipped
in
This has raised the question: Is a
cultured pearl Of this sort entitled 10
the same distinction as the wild peariY
Are pearls grown on a farm Ike 30
many berries and harvested when ripe
t. be compared with the pearl for
which the diver risks his life in
shark infested waters? Gem dealers
gathered recently in London. shouted
no.
Because the ingenuity Of japanese
scientist led him 10 produce pearls by
/ putting oysters 10 work on a farm.
he was none-the-less manufactures,
they claimed. II was agreed that the
/ true pearl Us the work OF nature un-
assisted and that pearling should re-
main n business Of hazard and not a
/ truck farm process.
The meeting decided that while
cultured pearls might look Just ike
| true pearls which not all the ex-
/ perts would admit still, they were no;
to he officially regarded as true pearls
/ French dealers went home and issued
warning in a French paper that rner-
| chants selling cultured pearls under
| the title Of fine pearls would Dc
/ liable to prosecution for fraud. That
was supposed TO make the world safe
for the wild pearl.
Glass Pearls.
But now word comes from Germany
that a jewel expert OF Thuringia ha'
attained new standard in manufac
ture OF synthetic pearls from blowr
glass. IL Is claimed that experts ar
put TO IL TO distinguish these imita
tions from true pearls.
There is no fine distinction to b.
settled regarding the status Of tht
German pearl. II Is an imitation an
claims to be nothing else. But, if II j
so good that all but experts are dc
ceived. and II IL can be sold 70
one-fifth the price of other imitation
pearls. as the maker announces. ma,
there not be a demand for this chea
article to the detriment Of trade II
other pearls. both real and imitation
Dealers fear that there may. SO tn
pearl business Is still disturbed.
The German pearl maker, Her
, Heinz. is known as an expert in imi
fation gems. He used 10 claim tina
, he could produce a beautiful imita
, tion OF any germ except the pearl. Ths
, he admitted, was the most difficult I
initiate, but still he experimental wit
. formulas. until at last he has hit upO
/ a satisfactory one. His formula Is re
ported as a mixture OF fish lime. wal
and silver nitrate In molten glass.
! Blown glass pearls are far froI
, new. A preparation made from IN
scales Of the bleak fish has long bee
used 20 coat the inside surface {
glass to make pearl beads. This ski
, substance contains brilliant colors an
!. gives 10 the glass the creamy, opales
, cent tint of the pearl.
: Wax is generally used TO All the no
low inhide the glass bead to make
g resemble the solid structure OF pear
!, But the surface has a CLASSY shin
and the bead is slightly lighter
g weight than a real pearl. Glass bea'
have, therefore. always been readi
.r distinguishable from real pearls
= any practiced eye.
= Apparently, Herr Heinz has II
N proved on this. product. II is a
nounced that the blowing of his nc
3, glass pearl is a difficult art. Hei
{, says that he can copy the pearls
any collar or ornament s0 closely III
,s the owner can wear the imitation a
= still attract admiration for her bea
"A tiful pearls while the real gems
"a, safe in vault. The result of Il
= challenge to the pearl business a
m the dog collar dowagers has not )
been announced
l. Whether the much discussed ia
N anese pearl will stay where the des
al ers want it. plainly classified as
a, culture pearl, also remains TO be see