Editing Draconic jewellery

However, the only record of a dragon wearing bands on their forearms is of the mesh message carriers worn by the [[Jade]] dragon couriers of China, such as [[Lung Yu Ping]].  The fine mesh depends from a silk and gold collar around the dragon's neck and is fixed to their forearms and talons by golden rings.  It may be argued that this is not purely jewellery but rather a sort of working uniform.

However, the only record of a dragon wearing bands on their forearms is of the mesh message carriers worn by the [[Jade]] dragon couriers of China, such as [[Lung Yu Ping]].  The fine mesh depends from a silk and gold collar around the dragon's neck and is fixed to their forearms and talons by golden rings.  It may be argued that this is not purely jewellery but rather a sort of working uniform.

There does not appear to be any difference in the jewellery worn by male and female dragons.  Temeraire was given a set of gold and silver talon sheaths "such as his mother occasionally wore" on the occasion of Laurence's adoption by the [[Jiaqing Emperor]].  On another occasion, when preparing to meet with the generals of the British army, he considered borrowing a spangled net of chains, to be draped over his ruff, from [[Iskierka]].   

There does not appear to be any difference in the jewellery worn by male and female dragons.  Temeraire was given a set of gold and silver talon sheaths "such as his mother occasionally wore" on the occasion of Laurence's adoption by the [[Jiaqing Emperor]].  On another occasion, when preparing to meet with the generals of the British army, he considered borrowing a spangled net of chains, to be draped over his ruff, from [[Iskierka]].   

Pearls are associatied with dragons in Chinese myth and legend, as for example in the tale of [[Xiao Sheng]].  Certainly they appear to be a favourite gem among Celestial and [[Imperial]] dragons.  At her first meeting with [[Temeraire]], [[Lung Tien Qian]] wore "a deceptively fragile necklace of filigree gold, studded with more topazes and great pearls."  [[Lung Tien Chuan]] was first seen by [[William Laurence|Laurence]] seen wearing "a net of gold draped from his ruff down the length of his neck, studded with pearls."  [[Lung Qin Mei]] came to give Temeraire his lessons wearing "an elaborate collar of silver and pearls."

Pearls are associatied with dragons in Chinese myth and legend, as for example in the tale of [[Xiao Sheng]].  Certainly they appear to be a favourite gem among Celestial and [[Imperial]] dragons.  At her first meeting with [[Temeraire]], [[Lung Tien Qian]] wore "a deceptively fragile necklace of filigree gold, studded with more topazes and great pearls."  [[Lung Tien Chuan]] was first seen by [[William Laurence|Laurence]] seen wearing "a net of gold draped from his ruff down the length of his neck, studded with pearls."  [[Lung Qin Mei]] came to give Temeraire his lessons wearing "an elaborate collar of silver and pearls."

The platinum of Temeraire's pendant will be of interest to students of metallurgical history. Although the first European reference to platinum appears in 1557, a consistent process for obtaining malleable platinum was not discovered until the late 18th century.  Chemists did not realize that they were working with ores containing other platinum group metals (ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium and iridium) and therefore obtained inconsistent results in their experiments.   

The platinum of Temeraire's pendant will be of interest to students of metallurgical history. Although the first European reference to platinum appears in 1557, a consistent process for obtaining malleable platinum was not discovered until the late 18th century.  Chemists did not realize that they were working with ores containing other platinum group metals (ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium and iridium) and therefore obtained inconsistent results in their experiments.