Hello everyone , I'd like to request assistance from the learned in identifying this string please. Further info: 44-pieces, appear to be mostly round/globular (not egg shaped or flat), length approx 49.5cm (excluding the clasps), weight 80g (feel very heavy in the hand), diameters between 10.2mm and 11.3mm (measured with a micrometer), knotted in between with black silk?, no maker's mark on the clasp, very cold to touch. One has a gouge, a few others have surface marks. I purchased these a week or so ago from a single photo as they "spoke" to me. I have no experience with pearls whatsoever. Over to the experts, and thanks muchly!
They look like dyed bead nucleated Chinese freshwater pearls from around 2010 or thereabouts.
The Chinese were aiming for the high quality Edison pearls you see today but along the way they produced these pearls with a lot of flaws. I saw a lot of low quality bead nuked pearls with wrinkly skins and those gaps in the nacre in T J Maxx (a discounter).
I own some dyed FWP myself (not bead nuked). They can be fun to wear! Hopefully you paid freshwater prices, not Tahitian prices?
If you restring them you can move the pearls with the greater flaws closer to the clasp, where they will not be seen. You can change the clasp too if you prefer another kind. I often restring necklaces in order to rearrange the pearls or change the clasp.
Here is a link to my stringing tutorial, if you think you may want to do that:
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...