Rare uncultured natural saltwater pearls?

[Jemily583]

My husbands mother passed away when he was one and a half years old. He’s recently been able to go through the things she left for him. A lot of the items she left we can’t seem to find on the internet ANYWHERE but they’re obviously vintage. We’d like to find an antique or vintage store that buys vintage but from searching it seems there is few and far between in northwest Alabama where we live. We have been told these pearls are from the 1940s and are “rare uncultured natural saltwater pearls”. We would like to get them authenticated somehow but unsure of that process or who to see also. Can anybody help provide with any knowledge? How much of value does this cost today? Etc. His great grandfather was one of the first green berets and we believe he bought them right before he went off to war. The clasp has IPS and 14kp on it.

 

[BWeaves]

They look like cultured Rice Krispie freshwater pearls from China, which started being cultured in the 1970s. I'm not saying they are, I'm saying that's what they look like. I could be wrong. The clasp is a very inexpensive gold plated spring ring. If these were rare natural pearls, I would have expected a more expensive and fancier clasp on them.

If you think they are rare natural pearls, you can send them to GIA (www.GIA.EDU) for evaluation and certification. However, it could cost a couple hundred dollars to find out that the pearls are only worth about twenty dollars. If you want to sell them, please realize that preowned pearls do not hold their value, so check Ebay to see the prices of similar bracelets that actually sold (not what they're asking for them).

 

[Jemily583]

They look like cultured Rice Krispie freshwater pearls from China, which started being cultured in the 1970s. I'm not saying they are, I'm saying that's what they look like. I could be wrong. The clasp is a very inexpensive gold plated spring ring. If these were rare natural pearls, I would have expected a more expensive and fancier clasp on them.

If you think they are rare natural pearls, you can send them to GIA (www.GIA.EDU) for evaluation and certification. However, it could cost a couple hundred dollars to find out that the pearls are only worth about twenty dollars. If you want to sell them, please realize that preowned pearls do not hold their value, so check Ebay to see the prices of similar bracelets that actually sold (not what they're asking for them).

That’s the thing, I haven’t found another picture of these anywhere online

 

[BWeaves]

Google "Rice Krispie

That’s the thing, I haven’t found another picture of these anywhere online

Google "Rice Krispie pearls". I found a lot of bracelets that look similar to yours. Look for the pearls with a more crinkled surface as a comparison to your pearls.

If yours are vintage, they could possibly be similar to these:

Vintage Japanese Rice Pearl Beads (5mm)Default Title

Introducing our limited stock, vintage pearl collection! Imported from Japan, each bead holds a timeless beauty that exudes elegance and grace. As vintage stock, these pearls are a testament to the craftsmanship of a bygone era, making them truly special and increasingly difficult to find. Their...

www.thebeadchest.com

These are $5 for a 16 inch strand.

If you think yours might be natural found pearls, and not cultured pearls, then have them certified by GIA, and let us know. I'm really curious, too.

 

[pattye]

I agree with BWeaves, the pearls look so similar to each other they are likely cultured pearls, not natural pearls, but vintage freshwater pearls from either China or Japan. Of course, their sentimental value is priceless.