[PearlsAllDay]

My husband recently visited a pawn shop in our area and put a 17'' 6mm pearl necklace with 14k gold clasp on layaway as a present for me.

The price of the necklace was marked: $650. The pawn shop reduced the cost to $466 (with tax, the total cost was $500 exactly.)

When I found out about this, I was honored but a bit concerned. I was thinking that knowing little to nothing about pearls himself, he might have gotten taken for a ride with his purchase.

He contacted the pawn shop this morning and asked if he could bring me down with him so I could look at the pearls myself.

The strand was a very nice Ivory color with a golden luster that seemed to radiate from within. I did the teeth test and found that they were definitely not faux (as in glass.).
The pearls themselves had some bumps and ridges on 7 or 8 of the pearls. Alongside some of the drillholes the pearls seemed to have a bulge. They were knotted on a silk cord.

The clasp had an "H" worked into the center of its filigree design (possibly a maker's mark?).

I'm suspecting that these pearls may be cultured, but I also think that they might be freshwater. When I asked the pawnshop proprietor about this, he stated that he believed that they might be natural saltwater, but could not be certain. He was certain that they were NOT Freshwater at all. We received a guarantee in writing that if any fine jewelry purchased from the shop did not appraise for more than the purchase price after a GIA cert, we would receive our money back.


I'm hoping that my husband didn't make a mistake in putting the pearls on layaway.

What do these pearls sound like they are, did my husband pay an appropriate sum for what I described and does anyone have any idea about the "H" on the clasp?

Thanks!

[Valeria101]

I doubt they are natural (i.e. not cultured). A non-graduated strand is unusual enough, finding one 'lost' in a nondescript location not likely at all. I mean, there's always a winner for the lottery, but this doesn't man that the chances to get it...

Given the size and description of the pearls, they'd be oldish akoya or freshwater cultured pearls. It isn't too difficult to get a new strand of either for the money. Unusually fine akoya would be more, but you are saying that the pearls do have some defects, so...

No clue about the 'H' signature.

Also, I am not sure about the guarantee: it is customary that appraisals state at least doble the 'shelf price' of jewelry. It isn't hard at all to get an appraisal for more then the price paid for th pearls. And a GIA report would cost quite a bit and take a while to obtain.

Could be wrong, of course....

[gravityalwayswins]

I can't address whether they're natural (not-cultured), but if you believe they are cultured, there may be another angle that would make you equally or more happy IF you are able to back out of that purchase.

The more commonly mentioned vendors that are often mentioned here have akoyas in a 6.5-7.0mm size, quality AA or AA+ (based on your statement that some of the pearls have blemishes), 18" length, for less than $500. 18" AAA freshwaters seem to be about half the price of the akoyas - under $200 for 6.5-7.0mm. You'd be guaranteed to know what you're getting that way.

That said, if your strand is akoya I imagine it would appraise for what you paid, but others members here are more knowledgeable than I on that topic and I'm confident some will offer their expertise here.

Good luck! Kudos to your Hubbie for the gift!

[PearlsAllDay]

Hmmm....I'm really thinking that he might have made a mistake in obtaining these. For my first pearl necklace, I really was looking for something that spoke to me as well as could hold their value for the time when I would be ready to "upgrade", and I really don't think that these fit the bill.

The Guarantee reads as follows:
Our guarantee to you:
Your purchase of this piece of fine jewelry is guaranteed to appraise above the purchase price by a GIA Certified Appraiser using current market values or we will refund your money in full upon return of the jewelry and a certified copy of the GIA appraisal. In addition, we will allow 100% of the purchase price as a trade in allowance on any one piece of jewelry of greater value at any time.

Never mind. I reread the guarantee and it seems okay fwiw.

[pattye]

It's a long shot, but Honora Pearls are a big company that has been dealing with freshwater pearls for quite a long time. Possibly the pearls were drilled in such a way as to camouflage a flaw. I don't know if Honora has used a special clasp with their logo H. But it is a possibility. At least you aren't paying thousands. It will be good to have a qualified pearl appraiser help identify just what the pearls are. We can probably help you if you post some good photos!

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time

[knotty panda]

It does sound like a lovely gift, but if your concern that you are receiving a fair price, make sure you take him up on his guarantee offer. Pawn shops don't normally accept pearls as they can't turn them around quickly enough to make a profit. If you do visit the store, see if he has other strands on display. This would indicate he has some knowledge of pearls. If you see no other strands, I would be skeptical of this vendor's knowledge.

[PearlsAllDay]

I just looked at the Honora website and looked at the clasps on their necklaces....not even close.

The clasp on the necklace is this style if that can help with ruling stuff out.

http://www.cathaygems.com/925S|14KG_...ls_clasps.html

I can get pictures on Monday of the necklace.
I'm leaning toward cultured freshwater for some reason....just a hunch. Doesn't explain the luster that the pearls have which is so unlike the luster of a cfwp.

[PearlsAllDay]

There are several strands on display as well as a 5 foot long 8mm akoya necklace that was in the safe and which they brought out to show us....4k was the price on that.

Explaining further....

They had about six or seven necklaces on display in the shop when I went in, several bracelets, a pair of studs and some rings.

[GemGeek]

Appraisers may hold GIA diplomas proving gemological education, but there is no such thing as a GIA-certified appraiser or a GIA appraisal. (GIA does laboratory reports, which do not have a value attached.)

If you don't want the necklace, you may be out the deposit that your husband put down on the necklace, as most pawn shops don't allow returns.

Good Luck

[PearlsAllDay]

Thanks. I suspected as much GemGeek.

[jerin]

Hi PearlsAllday,

if the strand does consist of old, blemished Akoyas it is not worth the price!

If the strand consists of freshwater pearls, I find the price much too high for such small pearls. Today you can get a lovely freshwater strand of much larger pearls for the amount of money, you could probably even get a Freshadama strand with 7 mm pearls for that! Try to return it. Why take an old yellowed strand, when you can get a perfectly nice and NEW STRAND? Let us know, what happens.

[Raisondetre]

For freshwaters you can get at least a 7 mm gem strand ... for a bit more you can get matching bracelet and earrings too, or the 6 mm set. I'd forgo the deposit and get a gem strand.

[jshepherd]

From your description the pearls sound like akoya not freshwater. The slight bulges near the drill holes are common for baroque akoya and the strong ivory coloration suggests that the strand is old. This is not necessarily a bad thing as the luster would indicate that the nacre is thick. Older akoya pearls tend to yellow a bit with age, and if the nacre is thick they will appear to be very ivory with a warm yellowish glow.

If the color is something you are drawn to, the strand may be the right one for you. It is extremely difficult to get a new strand that matches the color and tone of an older one. A lot of the color comes from the owner's skin oils.

Your husband should not feel bad about not knowing anything about the pearls. It sounds like the shop owner does not really know much either. From your description there is no chance that the pearls are natural saltwater.

Btw, $466 for a strand of 6 mm akoya seems like a pretty fair retail price, especially for an older strand with thick nacre. A new strand of akoya with the bulges (semi-baroque akoya) would be a lot less, however.

[knotty panda]

Don't forget that clasp, Jeremy. I think that's a killer clasp! She can probably get something new that's similar, but I love that vintage clasp. If it's in good condition, I'd be so tempted ...

[Kevin Canning]

For a B&M store it might not be a horrible price assuming they are Akoya. Its worth noting that most large jewelry stores really have a lack of pearl knowledge they can pass to their customers, I can't imagine a pawn shop knowing very much.

As a rule I would suggest staying away from pawn shops, they aren't exactly known to be the most reputable dealers.

I'm suspecting that these pearls may be cultured, but I also think that they might be freshwater.

most freshwater pearls on the market are cultured, but I think you meant "Akoya"?