IMITATIONS AND DOCTORED
Pearls
having a decidedly bad outer skin with a good one under it, can only be
materially improved by removing the bad skin, but owing to the
liability of finding equally bad imperfections underneath, or
irregularities which would necessitate the removal of several skins
with a consequent loss of size and weight, pearls with minor
imperfections or lack of luster are now slowly rubbed between the
fingers, the abrasion being assisted by various substances which differ
with the judgment and experience of the operator, the preparation being
in all cases kept secret by the expert using it. Many fine pearls which
have lost their pristine luster are now considerably improved by this
method, and without the dangers involved and the necessary loss of
weight, consequent on peeling.
Large
numbers of poor or imperfect pearls are scraped or otherwise doctored
by the traders and speculators at the fisheries. These men acquire such
pearls at a slight cost, and by various methods fix them so that by
mixing them in lots with good pearls, they often make large profits.
They also mix in many cracked pearls. This is done more often at
Margarita
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