IX] PEARLS IN JEWELLERY, ETC. 119 



pearls to the manufacture of artificial pearls. As 

 the price of pearls has advanced, very much care and 

 ingeiuiity has been shown in mounting and altei-ing 

 pearls which have defects. Surfaces may be i-estored 

 by scratching or roughening. Badly coloured peai'ls 

 may be bleached, but this is a dangerous method and 

 the pearls soon deteiiorate after such treatment. 



Skinning (or peeling) is a very well-kno>vn opera- 

 tion. It consists in removing the outer layers or 

 laminae from pearls which are not quite perfect. This, 

 however, presupposes the presence of better layers 

 underneath The result may be a very much enhanced 

 value or the reverse. Skinning requires great care 

 and it is performed under the magnifying glass with 

 steel files. 



The (hilling of pearls is another delicate operation, 

 although the introduction of special apparatus has 

 increased enoi-mously the number that can be handled 

 in a given time. Much skill can be shown in choosing 

 the point where the hole shall be drilled. Small 

 defects can be hidden in this way just as imperfections 

 in shape can be toned down by careful mounting. 



Pearl stringing is another art. Each pearl on a 

 string should be secured by knots so that breakage 

 of the cord will not be followed by a scattering of 

 precious gems. The cord used is of the very best 

 silk, and " restringing " should take place every :i to (3 

 or 12 months according to the wear that takes place. 



