Anyone come across this before?

[barbaradilek]

I bought this pin loving the big baroque pearls,but on closer look discovered all the pearls have been drilled through,and the drill holes have been filled with minuscule pearls.The “silver “ finish on the front of the bar is actually platinum,which dates the piece later than I thought,and the 5 rose cut diamonds are exceptional in quality and cut.A gemologist friend looked at it and said she had never seen tiny pearls used to fill drill holes before.The gold pin is unmarked but tests as18ct

 

[pattye]

Extraordinary and lovely, a great find, Barbara! No, I've never seen tiny pearls used like this before.

 

[pearlgirl12]

I love funky antique and vintage finds. Thank you for sharing it.

 

[PalmTreesEverywhere]

That is a beautiful pin. I've never seen anything like it.

 

[MotherOfPearlTrumpet]

Could those be "natural" pearls? Might be worth checking because coupled with the rose cut high-quality diamonds I wouldn't be surprised to find those are actually natural pearls, not cultured. It might require having your jeweler soak off one of the pearls to be sent off for testing. If they are no-nucellus natural pearls, that would definitely change the value.

 

[SteveM]

Could those be "natural" pearls? Might be worth checking because coupled with the rose cut high-quality diamonds I wouldn't be surprised to find those are actually natural pearls, not cultured. It might require having your jeweler soak off one of the pearls to be sent off for testing. If they are no-nucellus natural pearls, that would definitely change the value.

Platinum-smithing was introduced well before the cultured era, in the late 1800s. So probably natural, the doubt being FW or SW. @barbaradilek's Scotland location, assuming that is where the piece was acquired, would favor the former. Interesting application of seed pearls!

 

[CathyKeshi]

Whatever it is, it's Wonderful, Barbara