[PearlPoor]

Thank you, Caitlin, for the research reference. I am making a collection of them, including photos of Mikimoto hallmarks with reference to Edwardian, art deco, antique, vintage, pre and post war . . using fairly reliable sources as I find them . . which I hope to share soon here at Pearl-Guide for those pearl lovers who are interested in various historical details regarding pearls.

Also, Caitlin and all, I agree with you that my pearls are no more likely to be natural than you or I holding a winning lottery ticket. What I was thinking is that if they were cultured for 3 years (or 5 years. . see below) the nacre would be unusual and very different compared to most pearls we know from 1960 forward and the antique genuine natural SW pearls.

And, Ashley, I very much appreciate your advice about supposed 1910 Mikimoto jewelry. I was sort of thinking the same thing in a cautionary mode, rather than pearl educated thoughts as yours, simply because I was unable to find 1910 Mikimoto Edwardian pearl jewelry advertised or referenced anywhere on the WWW (in my very time-limited experience).

However, when I emailed the seller about the MM 1910 Edw jewelry, he did tell me that he really meant to say, 1910 to 1920 Edwardian; that he was just guessing. I checked out his other seller items and, basically, I sensed a total lack of knowledge, and other items were not numerous and basic $5 or less garage sale items.

So, I don't know, but for a lousy $580

(I know it's not pocket change, but don't think it's enough to bankrupt the house, right?),

I feel enormous regret and totally whimpiness (as well as: unadventurous, overly conservative, much like a very old, fragile, and vulnerable person . . . Yikes . . don't want to go there)

because I did not have the guts and believe in my own intuition to increase my bid to double the $580 amount during the last 10 minutes . . . which I could have handled even if using a little credit card help for 30 days.

Everywhere on Ebay and other antique jewelry websites (including . . . very well respected, long-time, and top end jewelry stores),

I see far less quality, unsigned Edwardian pearl jewelry guaranteed to be 1910 or before, priced in the range of $5K to $15K. Dammit, dammit, dammit.

Hey, on a lighter note, where are the posted comments about the photos I posted of my pearl purchases and contemplated purchases.

Well, if any of you are not bored to death by now with this thread or so aggravated by my continued quest for knowledge, I am pasting in some quotes from a little booklet I purchased, just for the sake of pearl education, resources to look up if you haven't seen them before, etc.

- - NOT intended to go anywhere in terms of my personal pearl problem (PPP . . . huh? that sounds kinda funny) - - just sharing for those who are interested.

Mikimoto Cultivated Pearls - The Gem of the Ocean
Copyrighted 1934

How Pearls Are Cultivated
. . . Even more wonderful than the Mt. Vernon replica itself is the modern art of pearl cultivation by Mikimoto. Imagine, if you can, a giant Japanese colony of 41,000 sea acres where oysters are helped by man to create pearls. This Kingdom of Gems comprises eight pearl cultivating farms between the Bay of Gokasho and the Isle of Palao.

The Scientific Secret
. . . The covetable value of Mikimoto Cultivated Pearls has been described by the late authority Dr. David Starr Jordan of Stanford University in these words: "As they (Mikimoto Pearls) are of exactly the same substance and color as the natural or 'uncultured' pearl, there is no real reason why they should not have the same value . . . Each sort has the same lustre and sheen, in quality which cannot be imitated by any form of 'Paste' or 'Artificial' pearls. The best method . . . has been carefully studied and patents of this process have been taken by Mikimoto."

Milton F. Gravender celebrated gemologist, in his book, "Fascinating Facts about Gems," published by the Gemological Institute of America, says: "Pearl culture has become an important science today, due to the vision, patience, and perseverance of K. Mikimoto, who has execute and perfected pearl cultivation. "

Importance of the Irritant
. . . After about five years of cultivation, necessitating almost daily surveillance of the oyster cages, the oysters are raised for the last time and opened.

Man's Conquest
. . . Among eminent scientists who have acclaimed Mikimoto Cultivated Pearls are: Dr. Charles A. Kofoid , University of California; the late Dr. Lyster Jameson; Dr. Herdman, Professor Sir Arthur Shipley of England; Professors Boutan, Joubin, and Dollfus of France; and countless Japanese biologists.

Well, I'm off to the WWW to use some of bolded text for a Google search. Love you guys, and thanks for your support.

PearlPoor

[pattye]

Hi PearlPoor,

I didn't know what all I wanted to say at first about your Miki collection. I can see you are enjoying doing the research very much, that is great, and knowledge that can't be taken away from you.

IMO, it is difficult to comment on the purchases you have made from the small photos, also the same about the ones you are contemplating. It is impossible to tell the quality of the pearls also from the photos. The designs appear very pleasant.

I hope you will post some very detailed and large photos of the items when you receive them. Even if you are not spending large sums of money, I would hope you are receiving authentic items. Do you have at least a 10x loupe so you can examine the items when you get them?

Not at all sure what you want to explain to your husband??????

[Ashley]

Lol Pattye- I agree!


Importance of the Irritant
. . . After about five years of cultivation, necessitating almost daily surveillance of the oyster cages, the oysters are raised for the last time and opened.

This info is incredibly out of date (but good to know when hunting for vintage Akoya)- modern farmers very rarely leave their pearls in the oyster for longer than 18 to 24 months these days (and often, less than that ), and the reduced growth times have been trending short for decades...

[Caitlin]

I am making a collection of them, including photos of Mikimoto hallmarks with reference to Edwardian, art deco, antique, vintage, pre and post war . . using fairly reliable sources as I find them . . which I hope to share soon here at Pearl-Guide for those pearl lovers who are interested in various historical details regarding pearls.

We are very interested in your journey and your findings. We have no one who covers hallmarks. Any hallmark is good to see here, even phony ones.

This is your niche-Run with it.


The first three-four items on the list should be about natural pearls and so anything you turn up in those areas will be great.

All together, your are a natural with the eBay item description language and type

[PearlPoor]

Yes, Pattye, enjoying very much the research; developing a much more intense love for pearls . . . not just because of my mother's love for them (and the Breck girls - nicker nicker - - she always said, Don't forget when have grown into a young lady, even through your whole life, use the Breck girls for your model in the way you style your hair, do makeup, dress, and wear jewelry . . . simple PEARL STRAND).

Speaking of simple . . . but not boring, I went to Pattye's website and looked at her creations. Wow ! I am in love with the KOI piece . . . hot, lipstick red, tons of passion and HUGE POTENTIAL to cause the wearer to be center of attention . . . yet somehow combined in harmony with "simple purity and ladylike elegance."I am impressed. I'll bet if those Breck girls were still around these days, they would wear that necklace.

Re Ashley's comment . . . I read that nowadays types of oysters with certain colors specifically bred into them are fed special nutrients (??? God only knows ... maybe steroids) and are allowed only 6 to 9 months before the pearl is taken. Yipes.

And, Caitlin, I am happy to hear about interest in the research I am doing. Will post some info this weekend.

Best to Pearl Friends,
Laura
Darn, I can't help it . . . I'm sending another post with Pattye's stunning and very sensuous Do Da Koi (did I remember the Koi's name right?)



http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_430xN.32258437.jpg

[Caitlin]

HI Knotty!

This quote is from post 47 or so.

She may also know if the clasp is genuine. Knotty has commented on at least one other miki clasp that was a knock off and explained it quite well.

I am SO glad you came on with your opinion! I had a feeling it was a knockoff so I told PearlPoor to get it ruled out that it is a knockoff. Then I waffled after all the photos... I should not have because I had previously made it very clear that I know nothing about Miki clasps. So now I am back to my first opinion- get an expert to look at it. Though I am sure you are right.

[Caitlin]

Hi Pearl Poor
(May I change your name to "PearlRich"?)

When I took them to the jeweler, I guess I revealed my ignorance because when I asked if he could restring them, I asked him if they were real or fake cultured pearls. (So, so stupid/uninformed I was.) He looked at me strangely, and then I said: It doesn't matter - - the value of these pearls to me is that my mother gave them to me.

That what many people will tell you instead of saying they are of low value, but you said it for him.

[PearlPoor]

Okay, Pearl CSI staff, I am totally confused now. First, I didn't see a followup post from Jas932 or pictures of his dyed pearls that look like mine (Jas932's message #63).

Also, I don't know what KnottyPanda means (post #75) when referring to "hats" on the Mikimoto logo.

Almost all of the logos I have seen have the S and very few have Sil. Here is a photo of a very old 1930's Mikimoto hallmark):



Here is another old hallmark:


And another:





I uploaded some photos of mm hallmarks if you want to look at them:

http://community.webshots.com/album/...host=community

Please please explain to me about the "sorry looking M" on my clasp and what about the "hat" - - maybe a photo of what it looks like. And, Caitlin, I like it, but why "PearlRich"?

PearlPoor

[xeresana]

I *think* Knotty might mean that the font is different. I *think* Mikimoto uses a serif font. This page has an example. There are little lines under the two "legs" of the M. http://www.mikimotoamerica.com/contact_us/faqs/ I don't know if they've changed their mark over the years. But, that's something you could research.

I know *nothing* about mikis, but as a consumer, if I were determining whether any vintage/antique piece of anything I owned had a genuine hallmark, I would choose my references *very* carefully. I don't know where your photos came from, and they may be from reputable sources, but I would be very wary of using hallmarks from pieces for sale from online auctions or online vendors unless I were *certain* that I was dealing with someone who was *extensively* experienced and trustworthy. Writing "genuine" in an auction title doesn't make it so.

If you really believe your pearls may be valuable, maybe you want to have them looked at by someone who appraises pearls. You'll have to pay, but they'll give you a more thorough and definitive answer.

[Caitlin]

We have been going around in circles for a over a month and it still keeps coming back to one answer: Get that necklace looked at by an expert.

We have given you recommendations of people with impeccable reputations. Or send it to Mikimoto. It takes a real expert to rule on the authenticity of the clasp., which is why I keep saying to rule it out as a fake, or discover that it is.

Good luck, but I am through with this subject until the necklace has been examined by an expert.

I looked at your growing photo collection. I would like to see the fronts too.

[PearlPoor]

Hi All,
I truly thank you all for your advice and opinions. I am doing more research, including the Mikimoto hallmarks, and trying to decide where to send or maybe personally take (Las Vegas Mikimoto store) my pearls to for an evaluation. Also, still investigating the use of various types of infrared UV lighting.

Will report back soon.

PearlPoor

[aggiep]

Infrared photography done with film, will go through synthetics, but not organic materials. A digigizmo will not do anything more than show the variences of the light striking the surface. Infrared uv lighting will do nothing for you other than give interesting light patterns.

O read this whole thread. I agree...get thee to an appraiser. Vegas is not the hot bed of reputable appraisers either. I live about an hour away from the town, and have perused the jewelry stores there many times. I have only met two people who know there stuff. Most are good at selling, and repair, but fail when it vcomes to real appraisals. My experiences go to my wedding ring. It is a VVS1 F color 1 3/4 carat diamond. I've been told all sorts of things about it from many jewelers in Vegas. I have the GIA cert papers on it. Funny I had one person tell me it was a cz and he would replace it with a real diamond for me. Being Danish born, he found out the wrath of the vikings when I stormed out. GO to the reputable places. Vegas is not reputable in my books.

[Valeria101]

2c observation: 5 years of mollusk rearing does not equal five years for one pearl inside the shell amassing nacre (critters have to grow a few years before first nucleation, much as I know, which makes the animals at first harvest a few years older then the pearls in them). Five-year cultured pearls... sounds more like a game of words to me.

Does this mean anything? 'Guess not. I am also guessing that there are more folks out there with an instinctive disbelief of brand value, just not the majority apparently (otherwise, branding would not be in the dictionary at all).

Blessed be! (both sides).

[Slraep]

Originally Posted by Valeria101

...... I am also guessing that there are more folks out there with an instinctive disbelief of brand value, just not the majority apparently (otherwise, branding would not be in the dictionary at all).

Blessed be! (both sides).

Ahmen! And I'd be one more of them folk out there that's not very impressed with brand value. I'm also one of them folk that think the global majority is quite different from the P-G majority. I would not be surprised if the majority's thinking is the reverse here on P-G. Otherwise how would one explain these fond nicknames: Shmikis, hackoyas, Mikimouse, Mikoyas, Miksters...etc..

Slraep

[Valeria101]

Originally Posted by Slraep

Ahmen! And I'd be one of more of them folk out there that's not very impressed with brand value.

Ya! See... sometime I wonder if we're not just the 'early adopters' (to use the proper, dreaded lingo) of who-knows-what [now, where's that special smiley for conspiracy theories? - other then ]