Trying to identify my pearls

[Octopus95]

This pearl necklace belonged to my mom she had it made in the 80's. I know they are real (did the teeth test but im trying to figure out if they are freshwater or saltwater and what kind of value they have. The clasp is either 18k or 24 i can't read it clearly. Any help would be appreciated. The lustre is gorgeous they haven't been cleaned either but she only wore these on special occasions.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

They are akoya pearls. I see a lot of surface imperfections but they do have nice luster, which helps obscure that.

Pre-owned cultured pearls do not tend to hold their value on resale, unless they are Mikimoto brand or were owned by someone famous. If you are thinking of selling them and are curious about what you might get for them, I recommend doing a search on eBay for SOLD listings of akoya pearls that are a similar size and length as your mom's strand.

In your favor is the 18K clasp, gold being so dear right now, and the fact that the price of new akoya necklaces has risen markedly in the past few years because of fewer being produced, due to mortality of the young oysters.

Personally I would consider the greatest part of their value to be the sentimental value. I would clean and restring them, and wear them.

 

[Octopus95]

I'm trying to remember more details.
In the early-mid 80's , we had travelled to california from new mexico i was 8 yo but i clearly remember going to this place by the ocean where an asian woman would dive and bring up an oyster and you would pay 100 dollars for each pearl. They would open the oyster in front of you and give you the pearl. Mind you, 100 dollars for each pearl in '83 was not pocket change.My mom may have bought enough pearls from this place and then had them strung at judd jewelers. It could have been sea world lol i know it sounds strange but i'm pretty sure it was at sea world or something like that. It was a large closed area by the ocean that kind of looked like a lake.. it seems so surreal now must have been early '83. Does anyone recall a service like this??
She had also brought an emerald from colombia that year and had it set in a gold ring at judd jewelers. Back to the pearls i suppose this means they are salt water but cultured?? Nonetheless they do feel gritty on my teeth and do like nice.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Akoyas are cultured and saltwater, yes.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

If you think you'd like to restring and wear them, I've written a tutorial on that. It's not hard to do-- many of us restring our own pearls.

Thread 'Stringing Tutorial with photos: Stringing on Serafil, Beaders Secret & Power Pro'

Dec 2, 2012

How to string (or restring) your pearls on doubled Pattye's Serafil, Beaders Secret, and Power Pro​

This is not hard-- really! It is harder to describe it than to do it. Anyone can learn to string their own pearls!
If after reading through this, it sounds too daunting, I suggest making a mini-strand for practice first. Make one 12-15 pearls long just so you can practice how to knot the end 3 pearls on each side and attach the clasps; the middle pearls are easy to knot.

To just practice knotting (without bothering with clasps), make an overhand knot, string on a pearl (or...

• Pearl Dreams
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[Octopus95]

I'm trying to remember more details.
In the early-mid 80's , we had travelled to california from new mexico i was 8 yo but i clearly remember going to this place by the ocean where an asian woman would dive and bring up an oyster and you would pay 100 dollars for each pearl. They would open the oyster in front of you and give you the pearl. My mom may have bought enough pearls from this place and then had them strung at judd jewelers.
She had brought an emerald from colombia, and had it set in a gold ring at judd jewelers. Back to the pearls i suppose this means they are salt water but cultured?? Nonetheless they do feel gritty on my teeth and do like

Akoyas are cultured and saltwater, yes.

Thankyou so much!!
Does anyone know if oceanside places like this still exist?? I remember a large crowd watching this woman dive for minutes to bring up an oyster.

Akoyas are cultured and saltwater, yes.

So this is probably a full pearl akoya necklace bought at a jewellery store and not many pearls bought at seaworld?? The reason im asking is because the asian lady at seaworld would have to dive like 30 times for a full necklace and more importantly , would those pearls at seaworld look like akoyas??? I think that was more of a tourist place where someone would just buy 1 or 2 pearls.

 

[Octopus95]

I don't know if i would wear them i'm a man and pearls are kind of feminine even though i do see guys wearing them from time to time...
Why would i have them restrung??
Because they are over 40 yo???

 

[Octopus95]

Can anyone help me with the clasp?? It resembles a zeppelin i suppose could this be custom made or does it bring any familiar brand to mind??
Thanks again!

 

[Pearl Dreams]

The shape of the clasp is called "melon". I have 3 of these and they are 18K. I do not expect that it was custom made, no.

There are "pick-a-pearl" souvenir shops that open an oyster or mussel that you select, and you get whatever pearl was inside. Typically they then offer to set it for you. Perhaps your mom got a pearl or two there. I very strongly doubt this necklace was made from such pearls. Rather, I expect they were purchased at a store. They are well matched.

Silk becomes weak with age and exposure to all sorts of substances, be they lotions, pollution, skin oils etc. The silk could break and the necklace be lost. Also, with time and wear the knots become frayed and the silk stretches, leaving unsightly gaps.

Lots of men wear pearls but if that is not your style, that is okay too. My husband has Tahitian pearls he wears.
But if you do plan to wear them, do restring them.
Don't bother with restringing if you plan to sell them. The buyer can do that.

Do you have a young female relative who might like them? Maybe a niece? The pearls are petite.

 

[Octopus95]

Here's what they look like. I'm in greece and would wear them on an island i've see guys wearing them. Yeah they are petite but don't look bad at all! Actually i'm happy that my pearl necklace turned out to be akoya saltwater pearls!

 

[Octopus95]

Thankyou pearl dreams!!

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Oh, yes, absolutely wear them! They look fine!
But restring them. Trust me on this, you don't want to lose them.

Give them a bath first to get the accumulated skin cells and environmental grime off. Then they will look even more lustrous.

Put a little mild soap in some distilled water. Let the pearls sit in the bath for 10-15 minutes, then wipe them clean with a soft cloth and rinse with more distilled water. Lay them on a towel to dry for 24 hours (silk is weaker when wet.)

 

[Pearl Dreams]

It's really easy to restring. It's just overhand knots! No special tools needed.
I favor synthetic thread. It doesn't stretch like silk and is easier to work with.

Can you get Power Pro fishing line locally? It makes great knots. I've used 10# test for small pearls and 20# test for slightly larger ones.

 

[Octopus95]

---

Ok thanks for the tip!
I wouldn't restring them myself.
Too scared i might do a bad job and fishing wire sounds very wise to use but wouldn't it make the whole necklace look cheap?

 

[Cuon]

I don't know if i would wear them i'm a man and pearls are kind of feminine even though i do see guys wearing them from time to time...
Why would i have them restrung??
Because they are over 40 yo???

Historically, pearls were actually very masculine until… I think the mid-late 19th century? Many Roman men of high regard would wear them, as well as emperors and princes of various Asian dynasties. Also, shiny things are for everyone.
Pearl knotting is stupidly easy (I sometimes bring stuff with me to classes and such), and no, fishing line doesn’t make them look super cheap. I use both silk and seralfil thread, and synthetics work MUCH better for any pearls of substantial size, as silk stretches. You should be able to find someone to restring them for you, too.

 

[BWeaves]

I think you look great in the pearls. I agree with everyone else. Give them a bath and restring them. It will brighten them up, and they will be more secure.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Do you think these vintage akoyas look cheap? I strung them with 10# test Power Pro:

How about these? I restrung these Freshadamas (gem grade freshwaters) with 20# test Power Pro.

Certainly you can pay for someone to restring them, but it can be expensive. But perhaps not where you are. And if they use silk, you'll need to have them redone when the silk gets tatty. If you learn to do it yourself, you can save money now and in the long run.

In my earlier days of stringing I used Power Pro almost exclusively. After I started buying Serafil I switched to that. More colors than Power Pro.
I suggested fishing line because of your location. But if you can buy Serafil, do! I buy mine from Pearl Guide member @pattye on Etsy-- also my flexible wire needles. https://www.etsy.com/shop/PatriciaS...r-name&listing_id=130725027&from_page=listing

 

[Octopus95]

No they don't look cheap at all but i wouldn't want the fishing line to show but i agree better safe than sorry!

 

[Octopus95]

I think you look great in the pearls. I agree with everyone else. Give them a bath and restring them. It will brighten them up, and they will be more secure.

Thankyou!

 

[Pearl Dreams]

You can string them with knots only at the ends-- between the final 3-4 pearls on either end, which is a Japanese technique. Then you won't be looking at any knots at all. It would make the necklace a little shorter-- about an inch.