Great Falls tribune., 1921-12-24
THE PEARL OF GREAT
PRICE

A CCORDING to newspaper and
4 magazine articles, there is dam
ger of the pearl becoming compara-
lively cheap in price and altogether
questionable, and this because a
clever Japanese has discovered how
to make pearls that can not be dis
tinguished by the experts from those
that grow in the pearl oyster and
are retrieved from the bottom Of
the sea. Indeed, some of the ex-
perts are of the opinion that these
Japanese pearls are artificially pro-
duced only in the sense that the dis
coverer has learned how to make
oysters or river clans produce
them. The Springfield Republican
thus moralizes in the new Japanese
pearls.
"A slump in the value Of pearls
has already occurred, and more
serious one is apprehended, as re-
suit Of the decision Of experts that
it is impossible to distinguish the
natural pearls from the cultured
pearls which the Japanese are now
producing. Except for the core. in
deed, they are identical, and there
is no way to get at the core except
by destroying the pearl. The cues
ton is one of anxious interest to
the trade, and it has been taken up
by the precious stones section OF
the London Chamber of Commerce,
which is not very likely, however,
to have any very practical remedy
to propose. 1t has been suggested
that the syndicates interested in
pearls make terms with the inventor
of pearl culture, Mikimoto, and in
duce him to keep his process a
secret, but a trade resting on an
undivulged secret, when it is COM
mon knowledge that valuable
secret exists, has but shaky foun-
dation.
"What is specially feared is that
the revelation Of the fact that it
has become impossible from mere
examinati ton to guarantee the genu-
ineness of pearls will destroy the
high esteem which fashion has late
ly put upon them. Taste in jewels
is capricious, and what passes for
taste is often not much more than
following of current fashions.
levels are beautiful, but no 1ovelier
than a flower, and the beauty OF
flowers bears no ratio to their cost
at the florists shop. If the beaches
were paved with diamonds, sap
plires, and rubies, who but child
would stop to pick up the pretty
toys? We smile at the simplicity
of savages who sell their lands for
gewgaws; if pearls were as plenti-
full as blackberries they might be
no more highly esteemed.
"Mikimoto's invention is not like
ly to bring them to that low estate
but even the slightest suggestion OF
commonness might easily hurt the
tremendous vogue they have had
In comparison with perfect pearls,
diamonds have come with many peo.
pie to be esteemed almost vulgar
Besides synthetic diamonds were
already being made, and who could
say when the chemists art might
produce stones equal to those taken
from the mines. To have the chaste
and fastidious pearl threatened with
a like cheapening process would in
deed be blow. The process is not
likely to make pearls cheap by
ordinary standards, but even a
slight loss of confidence, a slight
revulsion of taste might easily hurt
the market, specially for necklaces
of great perfection and proportion
ate cost. After all, for mere pur-
poses of adornment Roman pearls
serve perfectly"
And what then, if a string OF
pearls that duchess would have
periled her soul for a few years
ago may be purchased by your
stenographer or the girl who waits
on your table at the hotel7, Arc