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Another reason I would strongly advocate against buying pearls as an investment - the have a high moisture content (approximately 3-4% if I remember correctly) and can become brittle and lose luster if stored unworn, or exposed to very bright lights, or experience extreme and sudden temperature...

1. Akoyas were always my mother’s pearls, and my grandmother’s pearls. I have a few strands, and more stud earrings than I really care to count. 2. Luster, luster luster! I find it fascinating that the thing that gives them a beauty unlike most other pearls (those sub-tropical super-thin...

From my research, J Köhle was a jewelry findings manufacturer that specialized in clasps from 1919 to whenever they closed (at least 2018 - their JKa trademark is still licensed, but I can’t find a trace of the company after a business profile in 2018). Like Konig now, the company never really...

I fell in love with the vintage 18k gold JKa clasp on this strand, and bought it for the clasp. When I got it, the pearls were less round and less lustrous than I’d expect of cfw on an 18k clasp. (I don’t think I can explain how terrible the pictures were on the sale site. Imagine oversaturated...

I have a lot of book knowledge of pearls. But I don’t live anywhere where I can see the good stuff in person. Over the decades, I’ve bought a lot of pearls because I thought they were pretty. So I’m fairly good at distinguishing between 90s and 00s cfw and akoya, but anything outside that...

1) not exactly. There is no aerobic decomposition, but anaerobic decomposition occurs. Bacteria and digestive enzymes consume the specimen from within. Which is why it smells terrible. But it’s a slower process than aerobic decomposition, so you’re more likely to have the shape.

The first cultured pearls were made with silver and gold beads - they quickly switched to shell so they could have something that was equally hard as the pearl itself so the pearl is can be drilled. The pearl core doesn’t need to be an organic material, it just needs to have a bit of oyster...

Thank you very much. The thing that kept throwing me off was that they were grey, and I’m used to the dyed cfwp being much darker. (I’m not questioning you here! I’m apologizing for taking your time) But hey, sturdy(ish) pearls are a good thing! I really appreciate your time and experience

I’m back! Thank you for your patience with me and my weird “I’ve had this fifteen to thirty years and I’m not entirely certain what it is” pearls This particular strand was purchased as a hank from a local silversmithing store (who had been a regular buyer at Tucson for decades) when they went...

The hallmark is Maui Divers

Thank you so much! I loved Pearls as One, but it’s definitely written for jewelers to know what they’re selling. I’ve picked up a half dozen books that have been recommended around Pearl Guide, and am slowly working my way through them, but some authors do assume a level of competence that I...

I decided to dig out all of my old pearls, and realized that I was twins with you on this particular necklace! The necklace with the 5 akoya pearls in the pendant area is an early Y2K version Growing up in Southern California, my mother was sentimental about shopping in the May Department...

Thank you so much! Is there a good way to check nacre quality, if you don’t have a pearl-loving dentist? Or just chalky?

Back for another round of “What is This Weird Pearl!” Featuring J, a magpie with a little education and a lot of weird pearls. And This Pair: So, to start with, what I know for certain. 14k gold, 8mm Size: 8mm, or maybe a little under, depending on where I put my calipers. At the small end...

What about a marine clasp or an s-hook?

The title of this thread refers to Il Postino, a movie where a postman asks Pablo Neruda to teach him poetry. Which is what I am begging your indulgence on as I do the same to you. So I just completed Pearls as One (thank you @CortezPearls and @jshepherd - you are amazing and the course was...