I'm not sure they are south sea pearls at all. In fact I don't think they are.
Here is why:
1. To me the surface looks more like that of bead nucleated freshwater pearls.
2. The color is too uniform and looks dyed (which they would have to be if freshwaters.) Real GSS necklaces would have a bit more variation in the color. It is hard to match GSS pearls for a necklace.
3. The stringing job is low end. The clasp is vermeil -- gold plated over silver (see the 925 metal mark), the thread is white instead of gold (which one would expect with a fine GSS strand) and there is no French wire (gimp) to protect the thread and create a professional finish where the thread connects to the clasp.
The upside is that they are real pearls-- so enjoy and wear them! If you wish you could restring them with gold colored thread and gimp-- they would look better. I have a tutorial in the Lowly Beaders Club section if you would like to do it yourself. Many of us do our own stringing and it isn't hard.
Link to tutorial:
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 mini-strand for practice first. Make one 12-15 pearls long just so you can practice how to knot the end 3 pearls on each side and attach the clasps; the middle pearls are easy to knot.
To just practice knotting (without bothering with clasps), make an overhand knot, string on a pearl (or...
