Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-10

I'm my best diplomatic manner I accom-
panied him to the street door, where a taxi
cab was surrounded by q group of curious
people. The reason was apparent Her majesty
outShone Sheba. Her white-and-yellow costume
was ablaze with gems; white sapphire riveted
70 her left noStril shone resplendently
Her young son, the heir presumptive was
no less befttingly arrayed in the orders of his
rank. Her older son interpreted my desire to
view the family heirlooms discovered that
some Afghan customs do not differ from ours
for the lady removed chamois bag from her
stocking and placed before me a considerable
array of stones, mostly of minor Importance
THE lot was redeemed, however, by an
amazingly clear diamond, transparent as glass,
which appeared to have been sliced from the
middle of a large egg-Shaped stone MY interest
ebbed when saw it was too shallow to be
cut into desirable gems for the trade-and
when learned that the price was $I50OOO
Not long afterward it was sold at auction
70 pay the hotel bill Of the royal encourage and
it brought So, TOO. The stone may have had his
toric value, but its instrinsic value was ruined
by the poor cutting, and much of the tabled
wealth Of the East is of similar quality The
best stones of all kinds are coming to America
because this country has the wealth to buy
them"
TT HAD been rumored that one of the most
magnificent pearl necklaces in existence
was hidden in the vaults of Mr.. Blacks conn
pany Mr.. Black ordered 1t brought in and
when the doors Of the leather case were folded
back there was handful of beads worth $725..
600.
lustrous rosy light shone from these pre-
cious spheres, which were formed at the bottom
OF the Eastern seas by oysters irritated into
Vololng these warts when a microbe Stung them
IF you will notice." said Mr.. Black their
color can best be examined by placing them ON
this white cotton under strong natural light.
The pearl oyster is a very inconstant creator.
Sometimes her progeny is white sometimes
pink yellow, blue, black but, unless terribly
uniformed, all are precious In the Far East
they prefer cream yellow because their skins
are dark. Over here pink or pale rose is most
in demand.
Sometimes the pearl is elongated, but per-
feet sphericity is required for necklaces and
commands the highest price Notice when thew
are held between the eye and the light there
is translucent encirclng band about one.
NTH the width OF their diameter. The luSter
is soft, warm, breathing. Lack Of this luster is
almost always a sign of imitation
1T will take years to gather string like
this. Some of these pearls we have had for
20 years. They have to be perfectly matched
In color and graded in size. The center pearl
which is somewhat larger than large pea, is
valued at $4,000 alone
The pearls on this string have come from
various sources Some came from Bahrein
Island by way Of Bombay, others have been
picked up by an agent in Singapore We never
know what lust, murder and betrayal may lie
behind the glowing surface of one of these
gems All we ask is that they may be perfect.
"A necklace like this is scarcer than buyers.
Assembling necklace of this sort is a matter
OF time, patience, resource and skill. A true
piece OF art, whether mans or natures, has no
competition. 1t is gem unto itself.
"The vogue of very large stones whether
diamonds, emeralds, rubies or sapphires, has
never been so great as at the present time
Many large and beautiful stones are available
partly from original sources and partly from
old family or royal jewelSs's 4lf.sy ggss
(CODyright. 1922