Has anyone seen a pearl like this before?

[YHammouda-Eyre]

This ring is reported to be ca. 1800s. I'm assuming it's the original pearl. The pearl has a slight opaline iridescence in the light and a faintly yellowish area on one side. OK. It couldn't be a cultured pearl, because mikimoto pearls were not around this early, so my guess is this pearl is either a fake, freshwater or a natural pearl? Has anyone seen a pearl like this before? Thanks in advance.

Yvonne
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www.antique-jewelry-investor.com

 

[Caitlin]

I love that red gold pattern. I lean to natural freshwater from American rivers.

 

[GemGeek]

Looks like a natural to me. With age and wear, they often look like that.

 

[pattye]

Very interesting, is it rose gold?

 

[YHammouda-Eyre]

Thanks Caitlin, interesting. The ring originally belonged to a lady from New York who traveled to Colorado escorting her 15 year old cousin in 1885 - I wonder if a solitaire freshwater pearl from American rivers would have any significance in this piece of history.

GemGeek - thanks for your imput. Probably, the ring was made in the United States, around the (mid) 1800s. I wonder what part natural pearls played in US history around this time and also from where the natural pearls might have come. Were they imported natural pearls or were they local natural pearls?

Pattye - this antique gold ring looks like its made of rose gold (looking at the photo) as the metal has a distinct reddish gold caste. There are no markings on the ring, which is in keeping with the period, as the metals act was only passed in 1906 in the United States.

regards
Yvonne
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www.antique-jewelry-investor.com

 

[Caitlin]

The 1880's was the peak for American freshwater naturals. The rivers were full of them. People went on picnics and pearl hunted. The place to read about that is "the Book of the Pearl" by Kunz. Hard to find in book form but available for free reading on Farlang, which has a number of pearl books that are out of print.

They are still fishing American naturals out of the bigger rivers. And older pieces show up and are sold in local stores near where they were found . I saw a natural American necklace for $10k in a Texas store, way out of my range and that was years ago. Not sure you could even find a necklace now. This trade is too small and to spread out to commercialize. We have three experts on US river pearls. The LaTendresses' American Pearl, the Peaches' US Pearl, and user name Pearl Man aka Norman- another friend of Strack's Check him out- he a has quite a few of them and sells. I haven't seen him around for a while. I bought two wing pearls for earrings from him. I think I put pix up elsewhere

 

[Bodecia]

Hi, It looks very much like the pearls in a bracelet of freshwater pearls I have from America which are vintage or antique. Beautiful pearl.

Your pearl is no fake. Must be the real thing.

Going from what Caitlin about cost of a necklace said I must list my 4 strand bracelet of Mississipi (spelling) pearls pronto. Could do with a few dollars Will let the Pearl Guide know when I list it but it won't be for the kind of money Caitlin quoted. Sounds like a top dollar, high rent, top name seller to me I will be trying for about 1/10th of that

Dawn

 

[GemGeek]

Sounds like someone is saving up for natural white hanadamas.