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PREPARATION OF PEARLS
Although pearls are not cut or polished like all precious stones, they are often bleached before being marketed. Round pearls are also drilled, but otherwise they receive no assistance from the hands of man. The drilling is usually carried out before the pearls are offered to the Western markets, for drilling requires time and patience, both of which seem to be more plentiful in the East than in the West. The methods used are somewhat antiquated, but they are effective. The best possible results must be obtained; the holes must be clean, straight, and very small, otherwise the pearls will hang badly when threaded, and their value will also be reduced. The craft of drilling has been handed down through generations, and Europeans have nothing to learn from the native craftsmen, judging by results.
The pearl is held in a wooden vise, and the surface is then gently brushed over one point with a file in order to obtain the necessary grip for the drill. The drill is worked by hand, and frequent applications of water act as a lubricant, thus avoiding breakage. As the material is comparatively soft, the operation is soon completed. A chamois bed is used to polish the surfaces again, and then they have to be bleached. The pearls are now ready to be strung into bunches or into graduated necklaces. The sorting table is covered with red baize, and strings are made up from pearls of approximately the same size, color, and quality. Button and drop pearls are made up into packets, each containing suitable lots.
The Arabs have a very simple way of drilling round pearls. A piece of wood is taken, a surface flattened, and a number of small holes made with a knife. A pearl is placed in each hole, and then the whole is soaked in water until the wood begins to swell. The pearls are thus held firmly, and drilling is carried out with very little trouble. A small iron hand drill is used, and the pearls are loosened when the wood dries.