My "Pearling" Story...

I found these beauties and wondered what time period they must have been popular. Pearls set in gold with diamonds at the front of a necklace, with a pearl string providing the rest of the necklace. Most of the strands I've found were about 14" long so It made me wonder if they were 1950's when women's necks seemed to be smaller than what they are now. I restrung these three necklaces using extra gold beads or replacing the necklace pearls with a longer strand that matched the pearls on the gold mount. Two of the sellers advertised these as "Bib" necklaces. I would appreciate any information as to the time period and the proper name. Of all the smaller pearls I wear, these get the most comments from the younger generation.

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I decided to dig out all of my old pearls, and realized that I was twins with you on this particular necklace!

The necklace with the 5 akoya pearls in the pendant area is an early Y2K version

Growing up in Southern California, my mother was sentimental about shopping in the May Department stores. When they closed down or renamed the last of the Robinson-Mays in ‘05, she and I went to the local store and shopped there one last time. As we looked around the semi-emptied store (housewares was already gone, and the area was covered with brown paper, but for some reason, four racks of furs were in the old housewares area.), she reminisced about when people dressed up to go shopping, when eating at the department store lunch counter with her mom was an elegant treat, and about store Christmas parties, where they’d bring in local musicians, and offered nibbles, and the store gave gifts to the shoppers.

And then we went to the jewelry counter, and she picked out that pearl as diamond bib necklace as a last goodbye. So yes, that “5 Akoya Pearl Bib Necklace” (description on the receipt) was sold in ‘05, in department stores, for $1095 new, but cleared out for $330.
 
I decided to dig out all of my old pearls, and realized that I was twins with you on this particular necklace!

The necklace with the 5 akoya pearls in the pendant area is an early Y2K version

Growing up in Southern California, my mother was sentimental about shopping in the May Department stores. When they closed down or renamed the last of the Robinson-Mays in ‘05, she and I went to the local store and shopped there one last time. As we looked around the semi-emptied store (housewares was already gone, and the area was covered with brown paper, but for some reason, four racks of furs were in the old housewares area.), she reminisced about when people dressed up to go shopping, when eating at the department store lunch counter with her mom was an elegant treat, and about store Christmas parties, where they’d bring in local musicians, and offered nibbles, and the store gave gifts to the shoppers.

And then we went to the jewelry counter, and she picked out that pearl as diamond bib necklace as a last goodbye. So yes, that “5 Akoya Pearl Bib Necklace” (description on the receipt) was sold in ‘05, in department stores, for $1095 new, but cleared out for $330.
What a neat story!!! And we know the era of the necklace!!!! So cool!
 
Here is the older post with my tiny peacock pearls. It was in "Show Us Your Pearls in Action!"
This clasp still amazes me! It actually had some really cheap rice crispy pearls on it. These pearls are a much better fit for this amazing clasp.

Wearing my 6-strand tiny round peacock pearls with a 14K White Gold Sapphire clasp. The clasp was vintage and was VERY loved by its former owner. After removing the very worn pearls, my jeweler was able to get the clasp working properly and re-dipped it in rhodium. Sapphire/diamond earrings to match the clasp. I just love the subtitle shades on these tiny pearls. Hard to see in this picture but they are purple/blue/coppery/gray.
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It is a stunning clasp indeed and the tiny peacocks are a perfect match.
Always enjoy following your 'pearling' story...
 
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