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PRECIOUS STONES.
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IMPORTS.
The
importation of precious stones into the United States in 1907, as
reported by the Bureau of Statistics, showed a large decrease from that
of 1906. The greatest ratio of decrease was in the imports of pearls,
which was nearly 72 per cent less than in 1906. The imports of uncut
diamonds decreased nearly 29 per cent, and of cut, unmounted diamonds
over 25 per cent. There was a marked decrease in the imports of other
precious stones, though imports of glazier's diamonds and diamond dust
or bort were both greater in 1907 than in
1906. The decrease was largely due to the panic of the last part of
1907,
at which time the imports fell off heavily. The precious-stone industry
during the first part of 1908 has been greatly depressed, though it is
slowly recovering, as shown by the monthly imports." In February the
imports amounted to $200,443; in March to $389,514; in April to over
$400,000, and in May to $463,454. These figures are far below those for
1906.
The
following table shows the value of the diamonds and other precious
stones imported into the United States from 1903 to 1907, inclusive:
Diamonds and other precious stones imported and entered for consumption in the United
States, 1903-1907.
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PEARLS.
UNITED STATES.
It
was not possible to obtain a statement of the production of pearls in
the United States, since a complete list of producers could not be
obtained. There was, however, a considerable production of pearls and
pearl-button shells in the Mississippi Valley region, and an estimate
by Mr. Frank Koeckeritz, a large dealer in that region, is given. Mr.
Koeckeritz estimates the production of pearls and slugs in 1907 at
$264,500, as against $381,000 in 1906. The values given represent the
first values at the point of finding the pearls before they have passed
through the hands of dealers, jobbers, and retailers. The quality and
prices remained about the same as during 1906, when white, cream, pink,
purple, blue, and, rarely, black pearls of irregular, button, round,
oval, pear, and drop shapes were found. The prices range from $1 to
$2,000 each, and from $1.50 to $60 an ounce for slugs.
Mr.
Koeckeritz estimates that 35,000 short tons of button shells were
produced and sold during 1907 in the Mississippi region. The average
price paid for these at the point of production was about $11 per ton,
or $385,000, and about $586,250 at the button factories.
c Jewelers' Circ. Weekly, June 19,1908.
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