Opinions Wanted on This Japanese Pearl Necklace

[Bodecia]

Hi All,

Would love to get opinions on this Vintage Japanese Pearl necklace. The pearl in the 14k clasp looks like a keshi pearl to me and the stick pearls have me wondering exactly what they are. Possibly Biwa?? I don't know the sizes of the pearls, yet. Will try to get them. They are supposed to be between 20 to 40 years old. They do appear to have a great lustre.

Bo

 

[pattye]

Hi Bo,
Those do look very interesting. Is it a 3 strand? That would give a person lots of pearls to use if reworking the necklace. Are you seriously thinking of picking it up?
Pattye

 

[Bodecia]

Hi Pattye,

Yes, I am serious about it. Just appeals to me. And yes, it is a 3 strand. I also considered possibly reworking it depending on the pearls and the overall appeal of it in the flesh. Do you have any opinions on what the pearls are?

Bo

 

[pattye]

Hi Bo,

I would just go by the quality of the pearls vs cost. A lot of the true Biwa pearls were colored. It is very hard to guess from that photo and without knowing the size of the pearls. I went back to the Strack book to look at photos, but the ones she shows are not that shape. The few Biwas I have seen and the one I owned were like thick stick pearls, wrinkly, but not circled like those appear. Sorry I cant be of more help. Good luck, and keep us posted!

Pattye

 

[Bodecia]

I would just go by the quality of the pearls vs cost. A lot of the true Biwa pearls were colored. It is very hard to guess from that photo and without knowing the size of the pearls. I went back to the Strack book to look at photos, but the ones she shows are not that shape. The few Biwas I have seen and the one I owned were like thick stick pearls, wrinkly, but not circled like those appear. Sorry I cant be of more help. Good luck, and keep us posted!

Hi Pattye and All,

I will do that. Just go by the quality of the pearls themselves. I even have the feeling now that they are probably Chinese as the ebayer who is selling them all from the supposed Vintage Japanese collection has CFWPs which she/he states are Japanese. Probably doesn't really know and could have been misled by the people that sold to her/him. The others aren't bad but just run of the mill and over-priced whereas these really caught my eye. I did buy them regardless and will let you know when I get them. Might be 2 or 3 weeks though as it takes that long for items to arrive sometimes.

Thanks, Bo