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384
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THE BOOK OF THE PEARL
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had
absolutely failed to find any match for it. After years of fruitless
search he was at last rewarded by finding an absolutely perfect mate.
He took this to his favorite jeweler in one of the great capitals of
Europe, and ordered the new gem to be pierced to match the other so
that both could be set. The jeweler called a small German boy from an
adjoining workshop, simply saying, "Jakey, drill this pearl to match
the other." The collector was dumfounded that no caution should be
given to the boy when so important a piece of work was intrusted to his
care. Scarcely had the boy left the room when the collector inquired
of the jeweler, almost in consternation, "How can you trust so valuable
a pearl to so small a boy without a word of caution?" To this the
dealer replied: "Jakey is the most careful pearl driller I have ever
known. I know that there will be no failure in the drilling. I have
never cautioned him about such work. He never has drilled a pearl
wrong. Had I warned him of the value of the gem or told him how
important a piece of work he was doing, he probably would have become
nervous and, as a result, your pearl would have been cracked The
conversation had scarcely been completed before Jakey returned with the
pearl as beautifully drilled as the original one which it matched.
In
the Orient and elsewhere, when it is considered desirable to mount a
pearl so that it shall not turn, especially when only one part of the
pearl is perfect and that is to remain outside, the drill hole is
sometimes made square, that is to say, drilled round and then reamed
out with a small saw until it becomes square, when a square wire is
inserted; or else the pearl is first drilled with a tiny" round hole
and this is then reamed out until it is triangular, when a triangular
wire is introduced. This method is sometimes used for studs or
ring-settings.
In
setting pearls with points or claws on the wire or band of a ring, the
pearls are drilled only half way through. A gold pin is then inserted,
and sometimes a thread is cut into the pearl itself ; it is secured by
means of gum mastic or some other strong gum. Occasionally, to add
greater strength, a side pin is put in, so that the pearl is drilled
with two bits of metal, which penetrate the one side in a perfectly
straight line and the other at an angle of about twenty-five or thirty
degrees (this is called side-pegging). This gives more strength and
firmness to the pearl itself, and prevents it from twisting or twining
and becoming loose. Sometimes the pearl hole is drilled so that the
opening is that of a screw-thread, in order to hold it to the earring,
the stud, or the ring. The gold pin which is inserted to attach the
pearl to the ring or stud has a screw-thread also, and the peg or pin
is screwed on as well as secured.
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