THE VALUE OF PEARLS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5558, 8 April 1905, Page 12

THE VALUE OF PEARLS.

Dealers are inclined to bebeve that, the limit of values for choice pearls haa not yet been reached. Some exception-, ally high prices were paid for these gems recently, which go to show this upward tendency. Thus the remarkable price of £313 was paid for a circular white pearl, which —considering that its/ weight was only 33J grains, and that it is only about the size of the nail of one’s little Anger—is certainly exceptional, The auction was that of Messrs Debenham, Storr and Sons, where there were also sold, white pearls, black pearls, pink pearls, and pearls of all sizes and shapes. Seventy-two pounds was paid for a black pearl of oviform shape, and l £370 for a large bouton-shape Oriental pearl. A parcel of 75 pink pearls was sold for £174, and a beatrtifnl "fancy colour’’ pearl for £136. An expert explained that, generally speaking, these prices indicated nearly high-water mark, but very fine pearls woqld probably go higher. This was because the pearl fisheries was gradually being worked ont. Already the beds in shallower waters were nearly exhausted, and for the divers to work on the pearl beds in the deeper waters was a much more costly and difficult proceeding. Unless some new pearl beds were discovered there was a likelihood that the choice specimens would, in the natural order of things, increase tremendously in value, •is they became rarer..