Second chance pearls

[barbaradilek]

This Pearl strand was covered in gunk when I first saw it,the clasp was so dirty you couldn’t see the individual pearls in the settingThe silk was stretched and had frayed completely from the clasp.Now cleaned and restrung I love them to bits.The clasp is marked for 9 ct gold,dated for 1886,and has a London makers mark.

[barbaradilek]

Sorry,computer numpty here ,sent two identical pictures....Back to the Merlot!!

[CortezPearls]

Wow! Very nice! And the brooch/clasp has what I believe to be natural Cortez pearls!
The orient and luster on the golden Akoyas (I believe these are Akoya) is absolutely great. This is a fantastic find Barbara! Congratulations

[pattye]

Oh my, just look at that luster, Barbara! What a treasure!! Exquisite clasp and so awesome that you were able to date it by the maker's mark.
Excellent job restringing, too!

[BWeaves]

Wowza!!!! Can we get a neck shot. Those are gorgeous. And I love the clasp.

[pearlescence]

With what I assume is a full hallmark on the clasp you should be able to identify the actual maker - every gold or silversmith has a unique mark - mine is my initials in a cartouche shape. Which Assay Office has marked the piece?

[multichrome]

Just wonderful in every way. I’d love to know about the hallmark, too. That’s one of the good things about antique and vintage precious metal jewelry of British provenance: being able to get so much reliable info from the hallmark. Enjoy them and wear them in good health!

[barbaradilek]

Thanks so much for your positive comments,The makers mark is H@SL,and I’ve tried all the British hall marking sites but can’t trace it.I will try and download som more pics if I can find out how..( I’m new at this lark) The folks that restrung the strands( Gift pearls in Nairn Scotland who are amazing!) phoned me and asked if I had ever had them examined as they thought they were” pretty special” but as I’m not interested in price,and couldn’t afford to insure them if they were “special” I will just enjoy them,and be happy that you can see their value,and not wo

[pearlescence]

That can't be a victorian makers mark can it? @is a modern phenomenon (I could be wrong).
Can you do some sharp close ups of the markings?

[Lilpearl]

That’s a beautiful necklace, what a treasure!!

[Alyend]

That's incredible! I'm mad for victorian starbursts! The pearls are wonderful and the clasp is fabulous!

[barbaradilek]

Pearlescence is right about the @ icon,I miss typed,it should have been”&” which the Romans first used.I’ve endeavoured to add a photo of the clasp.If it’s not worked,sorry for the indecipherable set of numbers....

[CortezPearls]

Great pics!
Did you try the UV test on the pearls found on the clasp? The colors are amazingly Cortez...would love to see if they fluoresce in pink-red

[pearlescence]

Clearer. The last stamp could be a London Assay leopard head and then next to it a date stamp. You need to go to the website and look up A (?) in exactly that shape.
But way back when the level of fineness was marked with different symbols, not 375, which is quite recent.

[lisa c]

Have you tried backing the camera up a bit, taking the picture, then enlarging the image? Sometimes playing with distances and cropping can make a world of difference.
(I make sincerest apologies, if I’m giving advice to a professional photographer)
Sincerely beautiful capture of the pearls! I’m enjoying each and every pearl.