18k Pearl Necklace

[workoutsathome]

Hi all

I picked up the following necklace from a carboot, and just wondered what pearls you think they are? the piece is 18k Gold hallmarked and weighs over 35g

I took it to a jeweler who didn't know about pearls, but he did say they were real, and he instantly offered me ?500 which I believe is the scrap price. But I did not want to sell it until I'm sure of what the pearls are.

Many Thanks

Andy

 

[GemGeek]

Carboot - as in "off the back of a truck?" Have you considered that they might be stolen?

 

[BAS]

I took "carboot" to mean an innocent type of selling such as at a flea market or garage sale. Sometimes the items are bought from abandoned storage lockers, they're not necessarily stolen goods.

 

[workoutsathome]

Hi sorry, Im from England "Carboot" refers to what Bas has said it was a garage sale someone obviously didn't realise what they were selling, right place, right time for me, anyway back to the item? any info would be greatly appreciated...

 

[GemGeek]

Thanks for bringing me up to speed on the lingo! These kinds of necklaces are made by jewelers when a client comes in with a handful of pearls they have collected over time. They could be natural, which would make them valuable. Take a closeup on a white paper towel or serviette. Coil or pile them up so they all show. Use the macro feature if you have it.

There isn't a way for you to tell if they are freshwaters, because there will be no bead inside. You need an expert or a lab like Gem-A in London.

 

[workoutsathome]

Hi thank-you very much for your reply GemGeek, I will get some more photos as you have suggested, and with the macro feature I post them on here Shortly,

kind regards

Andy

 

[workoutsathome]

Hi are these any good? if not I can try and get some better ones tomorrow morning, when there is natural daylight.

Thanks

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

Although a nice strand, these pearls do not present as natural. All of the pearls appear to have shell bead nuclei and typical fireball tails. These are likely a mix of off-white and silver/blue akoyas.

 

[GemGeek]

Beautiful pictures! Dave is right. The pearls are most likely cultured.

 

[workoutsathome]

Thankyou both for your expert opinion, Could you possibly give an indication on the value on the piece?

Andy

 

[workoutsathome]

also somebody else told me they were baroque pearls... do you defo think there akoyas? If you do I will take your word for it as your the expert!

Many thanks

 

[CathyKeshi]

I'll leave the pearl identification to the experts here ... but that is a lovely necklace ... VERY pretty!

 

[KarinK]

It sounds like the main value is in the gold - which is substancial. The added value would come from someone loving the necklace rather than actual value of the pearls.

- Karin

 

[workoutsathome]

Thanks Cathy! Im back with much better quality pics! Here they are!

 

[GemGeek]

I'm going with KarinK on this. The value will be finding the person who loves the pearls.

 

[workoutsathome]

OK great thanks for that, do you have any recommendations for where I could sell the piece online... other than eBay?

Andy

 

[GemGeek]

The offer from the jeweler may be the best you can get, but you never know. People on eBay are expecting a bargain, but sometimes a bidding war will break out between people who become bewitched by an item. There can be risk selling on eBay - you might want to limit bidders to your own country.

 

[KarinK]

You could check with a local auction house though they will take their share of course. Or you could keep it as a gold investment in case the prices go higher. I sold a heavy bracelet I wasn't using some years ago. Still regretting it... Even if the money went towards financing another bracelet I use much more.

- Karin

 

[cyndayco]

Some online stores (Ross + Simons comes to mind) buy estate jewelry. Perhaps there is a similar merchant in your country.