by men for evening dress, usually mounted on pegs so as to avoid the display of any gold.
But
all fashions of wearing pearls except as necklaces, are ephemeral. The
fashion of pearl necklaces has been constant for thousands of years,
though it is only brought to general public notice when some new
country with its great and rapid accretions of wealth, adopts it. The
markets of the world are then affected, the price of the gem rises, and
this in turn tempts ancient and impoverished families to unlock their
jewel cases to the bidding of the nouveau riche. That this condition
has existed from the beginning of this century is shown by the sales
which are being made constantly in Europe at the great public auctions
of jewels. In 1901 the Comtesse de Castiglione necklace was sold for
$84,000. At the sale of the Princess Mathilde jewels in Paris, a three
strand necklace of 133 pearls weighing 3320 grains, once the property
of Queen Sophie of Holland, brought 885,000 francs, which with the
taxes to the purchaser made the cost $188,000. At the same sale, a
seven strand collar given by Napoleon I. to the Queen of Westphalia,
weighing 4,200 grs.,
84
