Recent content by Pella

The lustre on that pearl Pomelo is fantastic.

Yes - wear them with a dark turtleneck. :LOL:

Acetone will make the dye run in lapis.

AB have you had them off the thread? I am wondering whether the dye is caught in the pearl holes or the thread itself, though if you say that they are getting lighter then the colour is leaching out of the pearls. As I said before, do not use vinegar, it will dissolve the pearls.

Nor have I but about 20 or so years ago I saw someone's "lapis lazuli" necklace run. The necklace would leave blue marks on the skin caused by perspiration.

With fabric, you use a mordant to stop dyes running - salt or vinegar and soak the item. But with pearls ...? I wouldn't advise using vinegar.

Condolences for your loss. Your mother has left you a baroque Akoya necklace, full of character - not the highest quality but lovely lustre nevertheless.

Good on you. It is satisfying isn't it? I think that is/was the beauty of CFW pearls - they were affordable and you could experiment with different beads, not necessarily precious, to come up with different designs.

The rhinestone rondelles look like base metal. The clasp looks like Balinese or Thai silver (usually higher than 925). Get a magnet and see whether the clasp clings to it - if it doesn't then it is more than likely silver. Silver is non-magnetic.

On these baroque ones, see those little tails? You don't see that on freshwater pearls. In this case, also the lustre is a bit of a give away too. I am a bit surprised that Hardy Brothers carried pearls with so much character.

Also, one of Pearl-Guide's members is based in the UK and sells pearls online - Pearlescence (https://www.pearlescence.co.uk/)

Jeg the briolette and pearl necklace does not disappoint. It looks so lovely on.

Thank you for the additional photo. Unfortunately I can't say that it has helped. You are in the best position to see what it is. I have included a link to the Birmingham Assay office's website regarding date codes. From the shape of the stamps I think it is sometime between 1975 and 1999...

You may also want to do a search for Sango pearls - akoya pearls with a coral nucleus.

How on earth do they manage to drill something smaller than a rice grain. Amazing. I love those be-jewelled multi-strand necklaces threaded with the small briolettes. So lovely.