DOCTORED PEARLS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1927, 9 December 1913, Page 9

DOCTORED PEARLS.

if— THE AMERICAN VARIKTY MADE AS COSTLY AS i'lIK JNDIAX. A sensational affair of poarl culluro fir pearl doctoring, \vir;c!i has been irisiUofiio subject of complaint by tiro symliea'.es of diamond ami pearl dealers mvd lapidaries in Paris, promises to displace the famous necklace in tho public interest. Tlio pearl iu question was purchased for « smn of £2800 by -a wellknown dealer, 31. Altschukr, from M. Lindonbaum, awl banded over by jlioformer to 11. Wanna, who bad been recommended to bisn as one of tho .most skilful and honest p?nrl lapidaries. 11. Wanna explained to M. Altsclutlcr that lie had discovered an electric profess by which, by the inllueneo of ultra violet rays, the value of a. pearl conld bo enhanced without(modifying its substance or essential composition. When the treatment was-completed the pearl bad lost weight, but it was very beautiful, i\t. Altsei'mler took it back to Hie original vendor, 31. 'Lindeiibautn, and told him that, be now estimated tho worth at £10,000. A member of the Syndicate of Diamond and Pearl Dealers explained that on the imirko( there are certain pearls flailed American pearls., which eonto from mussels taken from American fresh waters. These jreflris arc considerably inferior in value to the seaoyster pear! fished on the coasts of ilia l'neiiie, and they arc of an altogether different composition. Tho pearl which 11. Altsehnler bought from .M. Lindenbaum was ail American pearl. The price now asked for it is one that is only obtained for the finest, examples of imlian pearls. The contention of tho syndicate is that this AiuoricaU pearl was doctored. M. Wanna, who is a Hindu by birth, in an interview with tho ".Matin," expressed himself thus:-"! have been treating pearls for the last thirty year;'.. It is necessary in be very expert in choosing the pearls which are to bo {rented. 1 have succeeded in enhancing the value of a pearl from .C'.SliO to .£IO,OOO. If this pearl wore an Indian pearl it would be worth £lH,(iiiO. T can affirm that the pearl which passes thrnuf'h my bauds docs not undcreo any chemical transformation. My work is not fraudulent in tho least."