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Famous Pearls. 295
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and rarity to the marvellous pair, weighing 227 grains, exhibited in the French Exhibition of 1878.
One
of these Pearls, weighing in its then condition 116 grains, was
purchased by the author in 1877, of a private customer, and sold to one
of our leading London merchants who, with great skill removed a
blister that then disfigured it on one side, and made of it a perfect
Pearl of 113-3/4 grains. This gentleman held it for some time without
being able to sell it. In the beginning of 1878, it occurred to him,
the -merchant, to suggest to Messrs. Hunt and Roskell that it would
probably match a famous Pearl of xi 5^ grains, sold by them to Prince
Dhuleep Singh some fifteen years previously, and that the prince might
consequently like to purchase it. It was submitted by Messrs. Hunt and
Roskell to the prince, and on being compared with his Pearl, was found
to match it exactly, and to form with it a pair probably unique in the
history of such jewels. The one weighs 113-1/4 grains, the other
113-3/4 grains: both are absolutely round, like a marble, perfect in
whiteness and skin, and very lustrous (orienté). The one originally
bought, having been mounted in a brooch, and in the usual manner
fastened on a peg, has a small hole drilled on one side, but this, of
course, in no way detracts from its beauty or value ; the other, not
having been mounted, was intact. Early
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