Lovely cultured akoya pearls! Does the bracelet also have the M in a shell that is Mikimoto's mark? Do the earrings?
If not, do they have any other metal marks?
Mikimoto pearls tend to hold their value more than unbranded pearls, because of the brand name. Mikimoto is a prestige brand name but they, too, have a range of quality. These seem to be very nice pearls indeed, but I do see
some flaws on the end pearls near the clasp in photo #2-- so I don't think these were their
highest quality. But Mikimoto doesn't sell low quality pearls. However you look at it, they are nice pearls!
"Valuable" is a relative term with various meanings. Personally I feel that the greatest value of inherited pearls is their
sentimental / family value, including any history you have about how she came to have them.
Then there is
replacement value, for insurance purposes. People have their own opinions about insuring their pearls; some do, some don't.
If you want Mikimoto to give you a certificate of replacement value for these 3 items so you can insure them, it will cost you quite a bit. I have seen a quote of $400 for a certification/ appraisal of just one necklace, and probably additional fees for the bracelet and earrings. I wouldn't choose to pay that for these items, but you may want to. You could take them to an independent appraiser but they will also charge for their services. And then you'd have to pay the insurance premiums, of course. Worth it? Only you can say.
Will they be worn?
If so, please restring them as soon as you see gaps in the thread or when the knots appear grimy. (As of now they look good.) Silk becomes weak as it ages and is exposed to skin oils, lotions/cosmetics, moisture and environmental pollutants. The risk is that the thread will break and the necklace or bracelet may be lost, or even just a few pearls (which would be costly and difficult to match and replace.) Again, Mikimoto will restring them for a stiff fee-- but you could also have it done locally. Your local jeweler may have someone who does stringing. Also, Pearl Paradise.com will restring your pearls. Here is a link for that service:
Yes, we can restring your pearls! The fee associated with this service will be based on the length of your item and original point of purchase. To have your pearls restrung, please follow these steps: Click here and complete the repair form. Ship t
support.pearlparadise.com
I have written a tutorial for those who wish to restring their own pearls, but it may be tricky doing a 2-strand as your first attempt at stringing. Still, if you want to try it, see here. You can't damage the pearls by stringing them, so there is no risk. If you don't like the result you can cut them apart and do it over.
How to string (or restring) your pearls on doubled Pattye's Serafil, Beaders Secret, and Power Pro
This is not hard-- really! It is harder to describe it than to do it. Anyone can learn to string their own pearls!
If after reading through this, it sounds too daunting, I suggest making a mini-strand for practice first. Make one 12-15 pearls long just so you can practice how to knot the end 3 pearls on each side and attach the clasps; the middle pearls are easy to knot.
To just practice knotting (without bothering with clasps), make an overhand knot, string on a pearl (or...
Of course, not everyone feels sentimental about inherited pearls and not everyone wants to wear them, or even to save them for posterity.
So then we are talking about
resale value. In general pearls don't tend to hold their value on resale, but Mikimoto pearls do sell for more than unbranded pearls. To see what they might sell for, do a search on eBay for SOLD Mikimoto pearls. (It's probably lower than you imagine).
Finally, caring for them!
• Pearls are soft, so store them separately from jewels and other things that could scratch them.
• If you're not going to wear them, don't store them in a safe or safety deposit box unless you also place a little dish of water in the safe to add moisture to the air. If they dry out, they can lose luster, turn yellowish, or even become brittle. Don't store them in plastic bags which don't breathe; you can find little silk or satin pouches, or use the original case.
• If you do wear them, pearls should be the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off. Avoid exposing them to perfumes and hair sprays. Wipe them with a soft microfiber cloth before you put them away. If it's been a sweaty kind of day, dampen the cloth a little. But don't wet the silk.
• As mentioned before, when you begin to see gaps in the strands, or if the knots begin to look grimy, it's time to restring.
I hope you will wear and enjoy them!
