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IMPERFECTIONS
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mantle
did not hold some essential ingredient in sufficient quantity to
secure perfect crystallization and thereby cover the entire surface
with transparent plates of calcium carbonate. It may be also that a
lack of essential elements in the creature's exudations, causes a
cessation of the mantle's action which by all signs appears necessary
for the production of transparent plates of nacre.
"Peelers"
are pearls of imperfect skins having indications of a better one
underneath. Speculators buy these pearls at a low price and skin them.
Sometimes they are rewarded by a smaller, but much more valuable pearl.
Many times the under skins are no better or worse, or if better, the
loss in size and weight, together with the cost of the work, make it
unprofitable.
Peeling
should not be attempted with cylindrical shaped -pearls having chalky
bands or rings around them, as such imperfections usually penetrate to
the interior in pearls of that character. Cylindrical pearls are almost
invariably fresh-waters. The imperfections disclosed in the under
skins by peeling, are commonly us
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