Guitar Guy
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Inherited Pearls
- Thread starter Guitar Guy
- Start date
Pearl Dreams
Pearl Enthusiast
You have the GIA certification that they are natural pearls-- so yes, they are valuable!
You inherited it with a family member...I recommend you do not split up the pearls, or else you will need to recertify them. The certification is for the necklace as a whole.
If you plan to sell it, find out what the metal and stones are, as that can significantly affect their value. It's best not to assume; any pearls may be strung with any clasp.
You inherited it with a family member...I recommend you do not split up the pearls, or else you will need to recertify them. The certification is for the necklace as a whole.
If you plan to sell it, find out what the metal and stones are, as that can significantly affect their value. It's best not to assume; any pearls may be strung with any clasp.
MintyFresh
Well-known member
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Wow! Natural pearls and so smooth, symmetrical and nicely graduated.
CortezPearls
PG Forum Admin
Nice inheritance!
jshepherd
Pearl Paradise
It looks like the real deal and could be very valuable. One thing that jumps out to me though is that the clasp is described as yellow gold and it looks like it's white gold. The gold karat and stone types aren't described, but that could be because it was a pearl identification report and it didn't include the clasp.
I found one that is similar in size that sold at auction a while back for £15,000.
Don't let some jeweler offer you a few hundred dollars for it
(saw your post on Reddit, and they got this one right!). You should have GIA examine it again and get an updated report. I would suggest an identification report and a jewelry report so the clasp can be examined as well. It's a few hundred dollars well spent whether you plan to sell it or insure it.
I found one that is similar in size that sold at auction a while back for £15,000.
Don't let some jeweler offer you a few hundred dollars for it
(saw your post on Reddit, and they got this one right!). You should have GIA examine it again and get an updated report. I would suggest an identification report and a jewelry report so the clasp can be examined as well. It's a few hundred dollars well spent whether you plan to sell it or insure it.
Guitar Guy
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Thank you for the replies, everybody. I am new to pearls, and don't know where to begin. I would like to sell them to a reputable buyer. Could somebody please point me in the right direction? I really appreciate it!
BWeaves
Well-known member
WOWZA, those are really nice natural pearls.
You could try posting them for sale on Loupe Troop or The RealReal.
You could try posting them for sale on Loupe Troop or The RealReal.
Pearl Dreams
Pearl Enthusiast
Maybe an auction house?
And if you ship them, consider insuring them first. Not just with the post office. And use registered mail. I've been reading a horror story on Pricescope about The Real Real: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/seller-beware-the-realreal-stole-my-diamonds.293757/
And if you ship them, consider insuring them first. Not just with the post office. And use registered mail. I've been reading a horror story on Pricescope about The Real Real: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/seller-beware-the-realreal-stole-my-diamonds.293757/
MintyFresh
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Guitar Guy: You really came to the right place here. I mean the pros and admins aside (like jshepherd and Cortez), the regulars on this site (though not me, I’m a relative newbie to pearls) have been collecting, buying and evaluating pearls for years and years. Maybe you too will become pearl obsessed! 
Also, please don’t be offended by my asking but you understand what is meant by “natural” pearls and why they are valuable, right? If not, others can explain more thoroughly than me.
Also, please don’t be offended by my asking but you understand what is meant by “natural” pearls and why they are valuable, right? If not, others can explain more thoroughly than me.
Pearl Dreams
Pearl Enthusiast
That is such a good point!
Natural pearls are wild pearls-- pearls that formed without any human intervention. People used to dive for these pearls.
A pearl might be found in 1 out of 10,000 oysters. Their rarity is why they were (and still are) so valuable.
Cultured pearls, on the other hand, are farmed pearls. Technicians operate on the oyster or mussel and place a mantle tissue graft from a donor mollusk, and usually also a bead nucleus, into the oyster or mussel in order to trigger the formation of a pearl. Humans then care for the oyster until it is ready to be harvested.
Virtually all pearls sold today are cultured, farmed pearls, and this has been the case for about 100 years, since Mikimoto began selling cultured pearls. Vast numbers of pearls are cultured today. Culturing has democratized the ownership of pearls.
But the natural pearls are still rare!
Natural pearls are wild pearls-- pearls that formed without any human intervention. People used to dive for these pearls.
A pearl might be found in 1 out of 10,000 oysters. Their rarity is why they were (and still are) so valuable.
Cultured pearls, on the other hand, are farmed pearls. Technicians operate on the oyster or mussel and place a mantle tissue graft from a donor mollusk, and usually also a bead nucleus, into the oyster or mussel in order to trigger the formation of a pearl. Humans then care for the oyster until it is ready to be harvested.
Virtually all pearls sold today are cultured, farmed pearls, and this has been the case for about 100 years, since Mikimoto began selling cultured pearls. Vast numbers of pearls are cultured today. Culturing has democratized the ownership of pearls.
But the natural pearls are still rare!
Guitar Guy
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Thanks for all of the feedback. I am still trying to decide what the next step is. I am leaning toward sending it to GIA in New York, and then selling them at an Auction. Thanks again, I am reading each and every response.
ennui
Well-known member
Any chance you could keep them? Whoever bequeathed such beautiful pearls must have been special.
Get your GIA appraisal, have them insured, and wear them (that's what I would do).
Get your GIA appraisal, have them insured, and wear them (that's what I would do).
