Are these nice pearls?

[evinz]

From a bracelet I just picked up on eBay, sold as "vintage Akoya cultured pearls". What do you call this type of luster? I think it's not metallic.

Thank you so much! Super new to pearls but I have already succumbed to the addiction and have learned an amazing amount in the last month or so (unless you don't like the pearls, haha)

 

[CortezPearls]

It's good luster...but I get these "Imitation pearl vibes" from these. I could be wrong...I mean, I do not have the pearls in my hand and photos can deceive you.
Have you "tested" the pearls?

 

[evinz]

It's good luster...but I get these "Imitation pearl vibes" from these. I could be wrong...I mean, I do not have the pearls in my hand and photos can deceive you.
Have you "tested" the pearls?

I don't have them in hand yet either! Just purchased. I'll do the tooth and black light tests, for sure.

 

[CortezPearls]

Had a second look at the pearls...now I have thin nacre Akoya vibes from them. Try using the black light first, to avoid damaging the nacre coating!

 

[Pearl Dreams]

I also thought thin nacre akoyas when I first saw them. There's a milkiness to their appearance.

 

[pattye]

Hmm, I'm leaning toward imitation. Something about the reflection seems too consistent. Is the clasp 14k?

 

[CortezPearls]

I know! I have divided opinions: either imitation or low grade Akoya.

 

[Pearl-love]

Hi there,

Just for my own FYI -- how can one tell that the nacre is thin? Thanks!

 

[Pearl Dreams]

In the photo with the scallop shell decoration, I am seeing different overtones in the pearls. I still think akoya.
But evinz should rub 2 of the pearls together (gently) to see if they feel gritty. If they glide easily on one another, that is a characterisitc typical of imitation pearls.

 

[evinz]

I can't wait to get these and solve the mystery! They should be here next week and I will definitely post photos.

I also ordered a freshadama bracelet from Pearl Paradise, so there can even be comparison photos.

Honestly I might have wasted some money on eBay by buying vintage pearls in the $100-200 range (this bracelet, a necklace with mediocre luster in person, and a 3.5 momme set of graduated akoyas which I actually love) instead of saving up for the akoya necklace of my dreams. I should have stopped with the graduated Akoyas.

 

[evinz]

If you're curious, here are the graduated Akoyas
and the necklace that (to my eyes) has less luster. I know both are real from doing the black light test, but the graduated pearls seem like better quality. There's just so much I need to learn!

 

[evinz]

Pattye about the bracelet they did say the clasp was 14k.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

@evinz, the graduated necklace is quite pretty!

I want to encourage you to restring it. The knots are a bit grimy and this means the silk is weakened and at risk of breaking. A lot of us restring our own pearls. See my tutorial (it isn't hard):

Stringing Tutorial with photos: Stringing on Serafil, Beaders Secret & Power Pro

How to string (or restring) your pearls on doubled Pattye's Serafil, Beaders Secret, and Power Pro This is not hard-- really! It is harder to describe it than to do it. Anyone can learn to string their own pearls! If after reading through this, it sounds too daunting, I suggest making a...

www.pearl-guide.com

 

[Pearl-love]

Hi. Wondering if you had gotten the pearls? And if you like them?

 

[evinz]

So I just got these yesterday. They are real (4-5 pearls at the ends of the bracelet have ripple blemishes, they pass the black light test). BUT I think I can see how they are low quality. Pics below. The first three are this bracelet next to the Pearl Paradise freshadama bracelet (which just arrived), akoyas are at bottom and left. Last pic is this bracelet next to the vintage graduated akoya strand, bracelet on left.

So my follow-up question (and @Pearl-love had the same q right before I spammed the thread with other pieces): how could you guys tell that the nacre is thin from the first set of photos? They do have sort of a glassy luster, is that an indication of thin nacre? Was that why you said low quality? In person they do seem round and well-matched, but the luster is not so bright.

Thank you so much for answering all my questions so far! This has been really educational for me. Now that I have some good pearls to compare this bracelet to, I can see how the luster is stronger and brighter on the other two strands, this is the lowest quality of the three and I think I'm seeing the same attributes you guys picked up on.

 

[CortezPearls]

@evinz : Do remember we are working with photos here...not the actual pearls. There is a BIG DIFFERENCE when working with actual pearls. Photos are static, the results depend on your light, angle, grime on your lenses, our monitors/screens, and even our EYES.
You just SEE certain things that act as indicators, but we could be totally off due to the fact we are working with photographs.

What I saw with the 1st set of photos was a "milky" look, that if it comes from Akoya it means I am looking at the beads under a very thin nacre coating. But also kind of looked like some imitation pearls (they do want to imitate the real deal, and it is always easier to imitate low grade pearls)

 

[BWeaves]

As Douglas said, it's easier to tell the difference when looking at the pearls in real life. But after looking at lots and lots of pearls, it becomes easier to look at photos and make a good guess.

 

[evinz]

Thanks Douglas and @BWeaves. Your point about seeing the pearls is well taken. Now that I'm looking at the vintage strands I bought on ebay, I can really see the differences between them. I love two and regret two, this bracelet is one of the strands I regret! Thanks again for your help.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

I think we all have pearls we learned something from! People who collect gems say the same.