Please help identify pearl necklaces & bracelet, earrings! 🙏

[nwgirl70]

I've been trying to research these on my own so far without any progress. I'm very appreciative for any/all help - these pearls belong to our dear Aunt she is now in assisted living and she wants information about what kind they are before deciding if she wants to sell them.
She doesn't remember who gave them to her or when exactly, but she said the necklaces were "fairly expensive gifts" maybe in the late 1990's or early 2000's. The bracelet & earrings are possibly older.
She thinks the necklaces possibly came in a rectangular pink & purple gift box with a ribbon tie.

Necklaces: 17" long, pearls are gritty, the white pearls are slightly more gritty than the pink pearls
white pearls appear to have more luster than the pink
Bracelet: smooth not gritty, 6.5" long
Earrings: slightly gritty but not as much as the necklaces

I cannot find any marks on any of the clasps.
I've included a ruler in one of the photos.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

The two necklaces and the studs are cultured freshwater pearls from China. They are solid nacre, and the color of the pink ones is natural.

The bracelet appears to be imitation pearls, and apparently have already failed the "rubbing test", but I will give you more 2 simple tests you can do to assure yourselves about this:

1. Temperature test. Real pearls are cooler than imitation pearls made with glass or plastic beads. Since you now know that the white and pink necklaces are real pearls, you can compare the temperature of the bracelet with that of the necklaces.

To eliminate a variable, they all have to be in the same ambient temperature environment for half an hour or so. Then take the real pearls and touch them briefly to your lips (lips are very sensitive to temperature). Do the same with the bracelet. What do you feel? If they are equally cool, the bracelet is real. If the bracelet is warmer, it is imitation.

2. Loupe test. If you have access to a jeweler's loupe (10x magnifier), look at the surface of the necklaces and the bracelet. Real pearl nacre looks very smooth at 10x magnification, but imitation pearls have a more textured surface.
In this photo of Renee Newman's, the imitation pearls are on top:

 

[Pearl Dreams]

I just want to add that while the necklaces are nice, they are not likely to bring a lot of money on resale. Unfortunately pre-owned (used) pearls don't tend to hold their value. If you or she are still wondering about what they might bring, do a search on eBay for similar SOLD necklaces. That will give you an idea of what people are willing to pay for such freshwater pearls at this time.
Edited to add: Back when your aunt received these, there weren't any truly, fully round freshwater pearls, so even these off-round ones could be pricey. In the intervening years the Chinese have upped their game, and round-to-the eye solid nacre pearls were sold, and also bead nucleated freshwaters that are fully round. As rounder pearls came on the market, the off-round ones became less desirable on resale. People generally prefer rounder pearls.

Is there a family member who would like to own them? They do have sentimental value, and they are pretty.
Is there a reason she doesn't want to take them with her into Assisted Living? While I would not tend to recommend taking valuable jewelry into institutional living situations (my mother was in one, and I worked in one) I would not hesitate to say these could go with her -- unless she would really prefer not to take them.
But if she has aides helping her dress, they should know not to spray hair products or perfumes near the pearls. My mother's aides did not realize this.

As to the clasps, sometimes the side of a fish hook clasp has a metal mark on it. It can be small and hard to see-- use a magnifier.

 

[BWeaves]

I've seen 1990s era freshwater pearls for this type for sale for $40. They had not sold at that price.

If someone in the family feels sentimental and would wear them, especially while visiting Aunty, I would do that.