Recent content by Alison

Funny you should mention that. I have one -- it's Edwardian, when such lengths were worn.

If I had this necklace in hand, and could not find any indication of MOP beads using a loupe, I would definitely have it tested! In your photos, the pearls do not look like baroque Akoyas. The clasp is very cheap (whether silver or not), but the pearl in the clasp looks like white plastic...

The necklace definitely looks like high-quality Akoya pearls, with a really exceptional clasp. It's very rare to see the double hook and extra lock. The stones are almost certainly diamonds (easily tested by a jeweler). The color of the metal, if it has not been cleaned, indicates it may be...

That is a great size -- wish I could find some like that! I think it is good you have a local buyer. From what I've seen there is more respect for natural pearls in India and the Middle East -- makes sense as these were centers of the pearling industry!

I am curious to know, what is the size of the largest pearl? You can get a good estimate just by using a ruler. I think $50,000 is a fair price from a dealer, if the payment is immediate and the transaction uncomplicated. (Complications could include export certificates, other customs...

I recommend either Hagerty Pearl Clean. You might be able to find the Hagerty products at an Ace Hardware, or similar store. The Pearl Doctor product costs more but lasts a lot longer, as it is in concentrated form. Both products are also good for other types of jewelry -- including coral...

Perhaps when dealing with loose, recently harvested pearls, you may be able to get that information. But I can assure you, it's totally unrealistic for the antiques market. Too often, when someone is sure they have great-grandmother's "real" wedding pearls, they are imitation. The number of...

With a cert, and close examination, you don't need to know exactly when or where these pearls were retrieved, or who first sold them, etc. Everything I deal with is at least vintage, and I can tell you that this kind of information is often lost within one generation! Plus, when I have...

If your necklace weighs 150 carats, that is 30 grams -- a VERY substantial weight, and the 59 pearls must be of good size! There is already one reply from an Indian dealer above, and I know there are a couple more who have posted on pearlguide in the past. They would be in the best position to...

Karin, yes! I consider it to be a cross between a treasure hunt and a rescue mission. I hope to have some more items to post in a few weeks.

Natural Freshwater Pearl Ring Natural Freshwater Pearl Ring Another recent find -- a platinum and diamond ring with a large natural freshwater button pearl! The ring dates to the 1910s-1920s, and the pearl is original to it. I love the simple setting that allows the pearl to stand out.

Antique Natural Pearl Earrings Antique Natural Pearl Earrings This is a beautiful pair of late 19th century earrings with natural pearls. The pearls are undrilled, white and very round. At first glance they might be dismissed as later cultured pearls, but looking at the surface texture...

If the lens is hot, do not put pearls directly on it! Heat is the enemy of pearls.

Thanks for posting more photos! I strongly believe these are Akoya pearls, and you could be spending hundreds of dollars needlessly to have them x-rayed. The pearls appear solidly opaque, and "machine-turned." I don't mean this literally, but it is a term I use in the attempt to describe the...

The rules are that you can use the word 'genuine' with cultured pearls, but never natural -- unless it directly modifies the color term. So, 'natural pink pearls' legally means something entirely different from 'pink natural pearls.' Of course, hardly anybody knows this and the term 'natural'...