Purchased a few years ago and need help with ID?
- Thread starter rsparks
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Pearl Dreams
Pearl Enthusiast
Can you please post a photo of the entire strand on a white background?
Also-- "authentic" what, exactly? Freshwater? Saltwater?
Also-- "authentic" what, exactly? Freshwater? Saltwater?
I was told they are “Vintage 14K 585 Gold Japanese Akoya Pearl Pearls Strand Necklace w Safety Lock” I can post a photo tomorrow. Thank you!
Attachments
They are lighter in color than they photograph, more cream than gold in person. I haven’t been able to get a really clear good photo. I’m hoping these are clear enough? I took them really quickly before making dinner. Edited to add the color on the mannequin seems more accurate to me.
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Pearl Dreams
Pearl Enthusiast
1. Are they all completely round? Some look a bit oval in the photos.
2. Rub two of them together gently. Do they feel gritty or smooth?
3. You said 9.5-10mm. Are they all the same size in fact, or are some just a little smaller than others?
2. Rub two of them together gently. Do they feel gritty or smooth?
3. You said 9.5-10mm. Are they all the same size in fact, or are some just a little smaller than others?
Pearl Dreams
Pearl Enthusiast
See, this gives me pause.
Real pearls in a necklace are never all the same size. The fact that they are all completely round and all the same size (and that their color and luster are the same, and no overtones) makes me think they may be imitation.
I don't think they are akoyas. 9.5-10.0mm is the uppermost standard range for a strand of akoya pearls because the oysters are small. They would not all be the same size.
South Sea pearl necklaces are generally somewhat graduated; a difference of 1-2mm from the smallest to the largest would be a common graduation.
Freshwater pearls are also not all the same size and often not fully round, although there are bead nucleated strands-- but again, you would expect to see some size variation.
I know the clasp is gold but any clasp can be placed on any pearls (I have imitation pearls that came with an 18K gold clasp), and the way they attach to the clasp is also not something I've ever seen with real pearls.
Here is another test: the temperature test. Do you have any other pearls for comparison, whether pearls you know for sure are real--or that you know for sure are fake? Real pearls are cooler than imitation pearls that are made of glass or plastic (but so-called "shell pearls", imitations with a bead made of shell, are the same temperature as real pearls.) If the test strand and any other pearls you have are in the same room/same ambient temperature, touch them to your lips briefly. What do you feel? Then do the same with the other pearls you may have. What do you feel?
Real pearls in a necklace are never all the same size. The fact that they are all completely round and all the same size (and that their color and luster are the same, and no overtones) makes me think they may be imitation.
I don't think they are akoyas. 9.5-10.0mm is the uppermost standard range for a strand of akoya pearls because the oysters are small. They would not all be the same size.
South Sea pearl necklaces are generally somewhat graduated; a difference of 1-2mm from the smallest to the largest would be a common graduation.
Freshwater pearls are also not all the same size and often not fully round, although there are bead nucleated strands-- but again, you would expect to see some size variation.
I know the clasp is gold but any clasp can be placed on any pearls (I have imitation pearls that came with an 18K gold clasp), and the way they attach to the clasp is also not something I've ever seen with real pearls.
Here is another test: the temperature test. Do you have any other pearls for comparison, whether pearls you know for sure are real--or that you know for sure are fake? Real pearls are cooler than imitation pearls that are made of glass or plastic (but so-called "shell pearls", imitations with a bead made of shell, are the same temperature as real pearls.) If the test strand and any other pearls you have are in the same room/same ambient temperature, touch them to your lips briefly. What do you feel? Then do the same with the other pearls you may have. What do you feel?
Pearl Dreams
Pearl Enthusiast
If you have a jeweler's loupe (a 10x magnifier), look at the surface of your pearls. Real pearls are very smooth looking while imitation look a bit more rough at that magnification.
See this photo of Renee Newman's: the fake pearls are on top:
Another thing is blemishes. Real pearl strands have some blemishes, but looking at your necklace, it looks unrealistically clean. A very clean strand is often a fake one.
See this photo of Renee Newman's: the fake pearls are on top:
Another thing is blemishes. Real pearl strands have some blemishes, but looking at your necklace, it looks unrealistically clean. A very clean strand is often a fake one.
Pearl Dreams
Pearl Enthusiast
Yes!
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