Help me ID these pearls.

[Caitlin]

Hi all. I saw these online. They are definitely freshwater pearls. They do look old and are being sold as old.

Do you think they could possibly be old? By which I mean NOT cultured Chinese freshwater pearls, but something else.

I am wondering and would like to get opinions from one and all. Think of it as a game. Your wildest guesses would be appreciated.

 

[GemGeek]

My opinion is that they look like Chinese freshwater pearls. Maybe as much as ten years old, probably more like five. They might be quite a bit older, but I would be shocked if they were Japanese or American. Are you thinking gulf pearls? How much are they asking for them?

 

[Caitlin]

No. I know they are freshwater. They come on an 8ct gold clasp, broken, and two of the 4 strands at 32" each, are broken. He is asking $225 or so. I don't want to buy them, they look they were made dirty on purpose. I think they are super overpriced, but we have seen people buy stuff they think is old before... So do you think is is a bit of a scammy way to ask over $50 a strand, instead of $10. a strand? He sells vintage stuff, but no other pearls, so he may got them from a seller who fancied them up like that to pass as old, worn vintage.

I saw some other very similar pearls sold from Latvia as being "Russian" natural freshwaters. Strack says there is such a thing, but no photos. Have you ever heard of any? I saw a lot of Russians, grabbing up Chinese freshwater pearls in India, where they cost considerably more than online stores.

 

[Marianne]

Totally agree with you Caitiln. They look like freshwaters and either made dirty on purpose or have been "enhanced" poorly. $225 is way crazy! Maybe they are from a lake in Siberia

 

[GemGeek]

Selling more by making them grubby? Wow.