Interesting mystery pearls - would love thoughts from the group!

[s3rndpt]

So, the backstory on my part: I bought these off eBay in 2018, where they were listed as "Vintage - Graduated 2 strand freshwater pearl necklace, 14k clasp; 18in". I was really after the clasp and paid $32USD for them, and barely gave the actual pearls a second look. Fairly soon after, some personal issues led me to pack up all my jewelry and jewelry-making supplies, including these, and I didn't really think about any of them until very recently, when I finally had time to unpack everything and start re-organizing. When I got to these, I took a closer look and got rather confused, because they don't look like any of my other freshwater pearls. They also don't look like any of my akoyas, Tahitians, or my SSPs. They don't look like the Tennessee pearls, as those are usually long and thin "dogtooth" shapes. Maybe they are some other kind of native US freshwater? I don't want to get my hopes up, but that would be a really neat little necklace if so!

Just for fun, my teenage daughter and I decided to candle a few of these and some others that I knew for sure were cultured freshwater and akoyas as a comparison. Unfortunately, my pearl knowledge is limited enough that even after looking through the threads on candling in here, I'm not confident in what I'm looking at. I'll include a few of those images, too, in case they are helpful in identifying them. They seem to be almost translucent in natural light, but I can't tell if that's just my imagination or if they truly are.

The box pictured is the one they arrived in. I have no idea if it's their original box or not, though the company is very old (in US standards) and still in existence, and deals in fine jewelry, both new and estate. I'm not attaching up-close images of the clasp, as it's a fairly common 14k white gold clasp, but I have them if they would be helpful. The smallest pearl is about 2mm, and the largest is just over 6mm. The shorter of the two strands is 16 inches, and the longer is closer to 18. The shorter has come unattached from the clamshell finding that was holding it on one side. Some of the candled images might be duplicates - I tried not to get the same pearl twice, but as I was a little flustered when trying to capture the images, I can't promise anything. Also, forgive their filthy state, I didn't realize how badly they were in need of cleaning until I was taking the pictures.

Without further ado, here are my mystery pearls:

 

[jshepherd]

They look like natural American freshwater pearls to me. I have a strand of these and they look very similar.

There are a couple of threads on PG where these have been discussed:

Thread 'Natural Mississippi River Pearls-appraisal'

Oct 26, 2009

Awhile back, several years probably, some of us who post here were searching for Mississippi natural pearls on ebay. I found these, and purchased for maybe $200 or a bit less. I can't find my posts about them anymore, but my intentions were to send them off right away to Sharon Wakefield for evaluation. Right.

Eventually I did, and just got the information back, so am posting some new photos (pearls are restrung temporarily on fine wire, they had a bath in pure castile soap from Whole Foods before they were sent off and looked 100% better.

Per Sharon: "NGL does not have the requisite...

• pattye
• Replies: 12
• Forum: Natural Pearls

A

Thread 'Mississippi river pearls?'

Nov 16, 2018

Hi everyone,

A friend who knows I have been on the hunt for Mississippi River pearls sent me some pics of a strand we think might be some. I can tell they are dirty, but do they look like river pearls or are they imposters masquerading as something old?

Thank you

• aerinha
• Replies: 31
• Forum: Natural Pearls

• 

This image is from the American Pearl Company - different shapes and colors of American naturals

All Natural USA Origin – American Pearl Company

americanpearlcompany.com

 

[s3rndpt]

Oh wow, thank you! How fun is that!!

Edited to add: I'm totally geeking out over this - it had never occurred to me(and I'd somehow missed the posts about them in here) that there were entire necklace strands of them produced. I'm going to clean them up, snag some of Pattye's thread, and restring them, maybe with a better, more appropriate and unique clasp, and use french wire instead of those awful clamshell crimp beads. I feel like I've won the lottery of interesting and unique pearls right now! Guess it's time for me to finally finish that fantastic Pearls As One course you created!

 

[BWeaves]

My gut feeling was natural American freshwater pearls, as well. I think you hit a jackpot. And a double strand, too! Please post again after they've been washed and restrung. I bet they'll be gorgeous.

 

[jshepherd]

Oh wow, thank you! How fun is that!!

Edited to add: I'm totally geeking out over this - it had never occurred to me(and I'd somehow missed the posts about them in here) that there were entire necklace strands of them produced. I'm going to clean them up, snag some of Pattye's thread, and restring them, maybe with a better, more appropriate and unique clasp, and use french wire instead of those awful clamshell crimp beads. I feel like I've won the lottery of interesting and unique pearls right now! Guess it's time for me to finally finish that fantastic Pearls As One course you created!

The course is being rewritten now and we are adding natural pearls. American Freshwater is one of the modules.

This is the American strand from my personal collection.