Rev. Rul. 56-422

Articles designed to be carried in the hand, or hung on the arm, or carried or worn on the person, such as cigarette cases, eye-glass cases, pencils, powder boxes, garter buckles, and canes, if made of, or ornamented, mounted or fitted with, pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, or imitations thereof, are considered to be `articles commonly or commercially known as jewelry' within the meaning of section 4001 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 and are subject to the tax imposed by that section on jewelry and related items when sold at retail. Mother-of-pearl is not considered to be included within the meaning of the phrase `pearls * * * or imitations thereof.' Therefore, articles not otherwise subject to the retailers excise tax are not made taxable by reason of their ornamentation with mother-of-pearl.