Identify my pearls please

[Ophelia]

Please help me Identify those pearls that I got from my great grand mother

 

[Pearl Dreams]

They could be akoyas or they could be imitations-- I can't tell because the first few photos are out of focus. Please take better photos of the entire strand and a few more close-ups, including close ups of any flaws you see in the surface of the pearls. If there are any areas where the pearly coating seems to be missing, photograph that as well.

Also, please check the tongue of the clasp and see if there are any metal marks (10K, 14K, 925 etc.)

A jeweler could tell you if the stones are rhinestones (glass) or diamonds. I would not expect diamonds in the clasp of an imitation strand (even though clasps can be changed.)

 

[BWeaves]

I agree that we need better photos. But they look like imitations to me. My grandmother's era (born 1902) wore their imitation pearls with pride. I have my grandmother's imitation pearls and they look similar in color and texture.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

I'm leaning that way too but I don't want to call it without more photos.

 

[Ophelia]

Please help me Identify those pearls that I got from my great grand mother

 

[Ophelia]

Hope those pictures will help

 

[Ophelia]

And some more

 

[Pearl Dreams]

They did help, but sad to say, they are fake.
This photo in particular was particularly helpful.

They can still be a sentimental strand to clean up and wear! I have a restringing tutorial that is a sticky on the Lowly Beaders Club section of the forum if you wish to do that.

 

[BWeaves]

I agree with PearlDreams. That's the photo that convinced me they were fake. The color, luster, surface texture, drill holes, all point to imitation pearls. Give them a good cleaning and wear them for sentimental reasons.

Most women of that era wore imitation pearls. Jackie Kennedy wore imitation pearls. Barbara Bush wore imitation pearls. Queen Alexandra wore imitation pearls. Coco Chanel wore imitation pearls.

 

[Ophelia]

I used a big flash for the pic you are talking about, I would be very surprised if they are fake cause they are so old and I don t see my grand grandma wearing fakes but I Might be wrong

 

[Ophelia]

The quality of the closing part is really high and I don't see any

They could be akoyas or they could be imitations-- I can't tell because the first few photos are out of focus. Please take better photos of the entire strand and a few more close-ups, including close ups of any flaws you see in the surface of the pearls. If there are any areas where the pearly coating seems to be missing, photograph that as well.

Also, please check the tongue of the clasp and see if there are any metal marks (10K, 14K, 925 etc.)

A jeweler could tell you if the stones are rhinestones (glass) or diamonds. I would not expect diamonds in the clasp of an imitation strand (even though clasps can be changed.)

I don t see any coating missing, the diamonds in the clasps seem real but yeah I think I need to bring them to a jeweler to be sure! I put more pic just in case! Thanks everyone for your time and knowledge

 

[Pearl Dreams]

A lot of women of previous generations wore fake pearls, proudly. Sometimes they didn't even know they were fake.

My father in law gave a pearl necklace to my MIL-- both of them thought the pearls were real, as did the whole family. Only after they passed did I get to see them close up. Fake!

My grandmother bought my mother a strand of Majorica pearls on one of her trips back to Italy, that she treasured and wore for decades, not knowing they were fake. When she was old and had dementia she wore them 24/7. I had to restring them for her with Power Pro (fishing line) so her caregivers could wash them off after she spilled soup on them. She loved those pearls!

Have you watched The Gilded Age? Caroline Astor, the powerful "old money" socialite, wore a 5 strand necklace with 105 pearls. After she died they found that 90 of the pearls were fake. There's even a NYT article about it: "Mrs. Astor's False Pearls".

 

[ennui]

"Mrs. Astor's False Pearls".

It may seem counter intuitive, but in my experience, wealthy people tend to be frugal regarding jewelry. They spend money on real estate and other investments.

 

[BWeaves]

The diamonds look like rhinestones to me, and the setting looks like base metal. But please, do take them to a jeweler and get them checked. I think we'd ALL like to know if we're guessing right or wrong, and what they really are.

 

[A Breaker]

Pearls As One course gives you a really good idea why there were so many very, very high quality Faux Pearls. Until Mikimoto perfected his culturing tech. ... Pearls were "found". To match and get a string was very, very hard and $$$$! Add to that Pearls came mostly from Saltwater oysters... Not in the US or Europe. You get people trying to make amazing faux pearls. Japan also did Not sell pearls that much to foreigners before WWII. Gold & diamonds were easier to get in Europe and the US...but Japan used Silver (as they had amazing Silversmiths!). So often it is Faux Pearls with Gold in the US or Europe and Cultured Pearls in Japan with Silver. Post WWII Japan sold cultured pearls to the US only for about 5 years thru the Army Exchange, but Military men and women bought and sent Pearls to loved ones in the US & Europe, these had silver clasps. Some High quality Faux pearls are still valuable. Haskell faux pearls (in good shape) are worth more than many vintage cultured Akoya pearls. Big Majorica faux pearls are more vauluable than older freshwater pearls. I hope that helps.

 

[Ophelia]

So I brought it to a jewellery, for sure it is silver clasp! She could not tell me if it was diamonds cause her machine was not working and she could not tell me either about the pearls cause she had limited knowledge about it I LL bring the neckless to an other jewelry place this week! Thanks for your help