Since Jo told us her super glue cleavage story, I thought I’d share
this one. (You know, out of context “super glue cleavage” sounds like
something quite different.) This was told me by one of the jewelers
involved in the incident. All parties will remain nameless.
At one of the finest ateliers here in NY an important natural pearl
was being remounted. When I say “an important pearl,” this was a
pearl with a history. It even had a name, just like other important
precious stones.
The mounting was finished and the pearl had to be placed on its
post. My friend and the jeweler at the next bench had built the new
piece and were having a disagreement on how best to glue on the
pearl. One was in favor of using epoxy, the other said they should
use pearl cement. The discussion, I won’t call it an argument, went
on for a few minutes and my friend decided to get the boss to settle
the question.
As he was coming back to his bench with the owner they saw that in
his absence the other jeweler had taken the pearl, heated it and the
mount and was sliding it onto the post coated with pearl cement. As
he pushed the pearl home they heard a crack or pop.
The pearl, from the heat and internal pressure of the post and
cement, had cracked internally, causing a large cold spot to form
where the nacre had separated in a circle. The pearl was still in one
piece, but no longer had a uniform luster.
It was a disaster. The owner called it “a death.”
Be careful out there.
Elliot Nesterman
