Pearl Necklace from Beijing

Sld3086

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Aug 29, 2026
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Hello, would love some help identifying this pearl necklace and any idea of its value? It was purchased in 2003/2004 at Sharon’s Store in Beijing but I don’t know anything else about it. Thanks in advance!
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This is interesting.

I'm on the fence. I'm leaning toward akoyas based on roundness, color, surface characteristics and the estimated time of purchase, if that is accurate.

However, round-to-the-eye, all-nacre freshwaters began to appear around this time -- or just a few years later. I bought mine from PP in 2007 but they were already out there; I saw a strand in a nice jewelry shop in Port Jefferson, Long Island in the summer of 2006 (or maybe it was 2005), and assumed they were akoyas until I asked about them.

What is the metal of the clasp? Is it sterling silver (925), or white gold? I don't see tarnish and would expect tarnish after so many years, if it was silver. I would think they'd use a gold clasp for an akoya necklace. It is not a high end akoya strand (if it is akoya) but it's nice enough, and in very good condition. It doesn't look like it was worn much, if at all.

I'm going to say they are probably akoyas, but I'm interested to hear what @jshepherd has to say, as he is the expert on this.

If they are akoyas, they are worth more on resale than if they are freshwaters. However, in general, pearls don't bring a lot of money on resale, unless they are high end (think Mikimoto). If selling them is your goal, check eBay for completed sales ("sold") of similar strands (and similar metal for the clasp) to get an idea of what you might get for them.
 
Thank you so much for your reply! The clasp is marked as 14k (gold). And the timing of purchase is definitely accurate because I wore this for my high school graduation pics in spring of 2004 haha. This necklace was a graduation gift.
 
Well, then I think they are akoyas.
I hope you are just wondering about their value and not trying to sell them. They are pretty and a very wearable size. Besides, they have sentimental value! And that is often the greatest value when it comes to pearls.

I got a manual typewriter for my h.s. graduation gift! But that was 1973. :D
 
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