Skinning a Pearl

1902

The lapidary was skinning a pearl. He had on gloves of a very delicate sort of kid, and the glasses that he wore had lenses of such great magnifying power that his eyes, through them, looked as big as saucers.

"I wear gloves," he said, "because the hands perspire freely in this work, and perspiration has often been known to discolor pearls. This stone was injured by the accidental dropping on it of some acid. The disaster discolored it, you see. With this very delicate little tool I am removing its outer skin, and if I find that the acid has filtered through and discolored the inner skin also I may remove that as well.

"A pearl, you see, is composed of concentric layers, or skins, and you can, if you are a clever workman, peel it down and down until it disappears. That operation, indeed, is often done by the apprentices of the lapidary trade. They work on spoiled, worthless pearls, and the experience is very good for them. It teaches them a great deal about the pearl's anatomy, and it gives wonderful cunning to their hands. The pearl is the only precious stone that can he skinned. To skin it is often the only way to restore its milky color." — Philadelphia Record.