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I think you may have a Majorica imitation strand. Majorica are the best of the best imitations. I have 2 Majorica imitation strands with 18K gold melon-style corrugated clasps like yours. Most Majorica have silver or vermeil (gold plated over silver) clasps, but not all. The uniformity of the...

I've seen those too but never heard of a specific name for them. They look like they would be very comfortable to wear.

I think they are dyed baroque akoyas. Not only is the color very consistent, but in your first photo I think that is a spot of dye concentration on the topmost pearl. But hey, they are pretty, so enjoy! I'm so glad you are happily stringing your pearls! It is so satisfying to know that the...

The small ones are quite small...so I lean toward FW.

I thought fake, too. Rubbing with acetone would take any fake pearl coating off the underlying bead, if you want to test it. Acetone is a solvent and it would dissolve the coating. Just test one bead.

It appears to be a nice strand of cultured akoya pearls. Is there a metal mark anywhere on the clasp? Sometimes it's on the tongue of the clasp.

Maybe use different colored clips?

Imitation, I agree 100%. It wasn't unusual for imitation strands to have silver clasps. My mother and MIL both had imitation strands with a silver clasp.

Gift link to article, for non-subscribers : https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/05/fashion/jewelry-pearls-demand.html?unlocked_article_code=1.gk4.k3dJ.qiKLC-LIMfLi&smid=url-share

You might still want to put a knot after a grouping of pearls. Maybe every 5 pearls, or whatever, as a design element and to increase the security of the strand.

For multistrand necklaces I would decide the length of the shortest strand first, then add 1 inch of length to each succeeding strand. e.g. 17", 18", 19" -- or 18", 19", 20". Or whatever you prefer. To hold pearls in their desired position on the beading board, string them temporarily onto...

I recommend you use a beading board and a pair of bead tweezers (they are spoon-shaped to pick up beads easily) and play around with them until you find an arrangement that pleases your eye. Don't worry too much about symmetry. I think you can come up with something interesting to look at and...

Yes. I admit I don't see the appeal of dyed black akoyas.

Dyed black akoyas will have the shininess of white akoyas but I would not expect to see iridescence, if that's what you mean by luminescence. The black akoyas I've seen are darker than typical dyed freshwaters. Akoyas having a bead inside, they will also be rounder. And they may be smaller as...

Definitely look like imitation pearls. Re: tooth test, I have recently stopped suggesting people test pearls by rubbing them on their teeth. Teeth are harder than nacre and can scratch it. Best to just rub one pearl against another-- gently.

Freshadamas will not be 100% round, if that matters to you (because they are not bead nucleated.)

It's probably glue. Dissolve with acetone.

Danny posted this also (which has not yet been approved): "Thank you all for your insights and detailed explanations! Based on how it feels like a solid single piece and considering the UV light observations, I lean toward the idea of it being a naturally fused cluster. Its shape somehow...

I agree, they look fake, but I will add that it's very hard to evaluate pearls photographed against a dark background. And some of the photos are out of focus also. If you would like us to take another look, plese post photos against a white background, like maybe a paper towel. Here is a...

Then the pearls should be 8-8.5mm taking into consideration the clasp and the knots.