pearls in the United States to retail dealers, and an idea of the relative value of different qualities and shapes.
First it should be remembered that the price of pearls is reckoned by the square of the weight, with the pearl-grain, \ carat,
as the unit. Given the price at $3.00 per grain base or multiple, a
half grain pearl would be half of $3.00 or $1.50 per grain flat, or
seventy-five cents for the pearl. At the same price a one grain pearl
would be at $3.00 per grain multiple, $3.00 per grain flat and $3.00
for the pearl. Upon the same basis a two grain pearl would be twice
three are six, $6.00 per grain flat and twice six are twelve, $12.00
for the pearl. Or it may be stated thus: multiply the grain number by
itself and the product by the base price, as a 6 gr. pearl at $3.00
base, 6 x 6=36 x 3=108 dollars, the price of the pearl. This rule
applies to all but rejections or those too poor for classification,
and extraordinary pieces which by their extreme rarity pass beyond the
governance of rules. The sign used in quoting a multiple price is a
square. This placed after a price quoted means that it is
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