nacreous
layers. Not only are cracks made to disappear, but coloring matter can
be introduced between the skins. A white pearl of very poor color can
by such means be changed temporarily into a black pearl which will
command a fancy price. This illegitimate doctoring of pearls, whereby
defects are hidden and a fictitious appearance of quality imparted to
last long enough to make sales at exorbitant prices, should not be
confounded with the legitimate improvement of pearls which is.now
growing to be an industry of some importance. Experts are now able by
careful manipulation to restore to some extent the luster which has
been lost by wear or age.
Formerly this was done by skinning the pearl, i.e., removing
the outer skin by peeling it carefully off with the edge of a sharp
knife, an unsatisfactory method at best, as the under skin may not be
good and if all the outer skin is not taken off, the broken edges of
the layers composing the skin, mar the luster and color when the pearl
is worn. Few also succeed in removing a skin without scratching the new
one disclosed by its removal.
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