What are these pearls?

[pinkpearls]

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Can you attach a photo with the clasp as well? With a close up of the clasp front and back. Are there any metal marks indicating the kind of metal? 14k, 585, 925 etc.

Also, the pearls near the center appear to be oval rather than round, but that could be distortion from the camera. We sometimes see that near the edge of a photo. Are the pearls all round? Do they graduate in size, as they appear to?

I don't see any flaws. Can you examine the pearls and take a close up of any flaws you see in the surface?

If there are no flaws visible anywhere, not even pinpricks, they could be fake.
If off-round, they could be freshwaters.
If some blemishes and all perfectly round, they could be akoyas.

It helps to have all the information.

 

[pinkpearls]

They all have around the same size and shape(5.5-6mm). This is the biggest blemish I found. The clasp says 14k.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

An imitation strand would not typically have a .5mm size range like that, while a real pearl strand would.

Given that the clasp is gold (imitation strands usually don't have karat gold clasps) and given that it is finished with gimp (that little coil of French wire that protects the thread where it meets the clasp) and that they are all round, I'm going with akoyas.

 

[pinkpearls]

I think they are freshadama! I'm curious how those blemishes (the ones in the last picture) might have occurred? so that I can prevent it from happening again. Also, I'm new to the forum and can I just say that I love pearls so much!

 

[pinkpearls]

I just wasn't sure if they had been restrung. Or if that is a common thing.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Freshadama is a brand name of gem grade freshwater pearls sold by Pearl Paradise, specifically. Do you mean you think they are gem freshwaters (no particular brand)?
Maybe! Some gem grade freshwaters are sold in that size range.

Do you see a bit of off-roundness that I am not seeing? These kinds of FWP strands are very close to round-- they look round to the eye, as worn-- but are not usually 100% round. Close, but not fully round. Because they don't have a bead inside-- they are all nacre.

I can't speak to why that particular pearl has that particular flaw. If you take normal good care of your pearls you should not have problems. Don't store them with jewelry that could scratch them.

They may have been restrung at some point.

 

[pinkpearls]

Definitely not 100% round. I thrifted these so before, I wasn't sure if they were actually that type/real pearls or had just been restrung with a nice clasp. But now, I'm pretty sure they're actual pearls and they also feel gritty.

I'm so excited to wear them! I'm planning to wear them everyday. My only concern is that I've heard you're not supposed to wear perfume/lotion around them which is fine by me, but what about sunscreen? Because I do think they would get sunscreen everyday.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

So freshwaters, then.
Well, as I like to say, sunscreen isn't good for pearls-- but cancer isn't good for skin!

So wear the sunscreen-- and clean the pearls every time when you take them off. Use a damp soft microfiber cloth, and wash the cloth often.
And if they need a good cleaning, give them a bath in distilled water with a bit of mild soap added, then rinse them in more distilled water and lay them on a clean towel to dry for 24 hours (to ensure that the thread inside the drill hole is entirely dry).

 

[pinkpearls]

Wow this information is gold, thank you!

 

[pinkpearls]

When you give them a bath in distilled water, do you also let the clasp soak, or do you keep it outside the bowl?

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Sure, let the clasp soak too.
Just 10 or 15 minutes is enough.

If they are currently strung on silk, you want to make sure the thread is dry before wearing them again as silk stretches when wet. That's why I suggest waiting 24 hours. It will certainly be dry by then. Polyester thread is more forgiving-- I string with the synthetic thread Serafil.

When you eventually decide to restring them, check out my stringing tutorial:

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
• Replies: 394
• Forum: The Lowly Beaders' Club

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Also since you love pearls, you may wish to take the CPAA's "Pearls As One" course. I'll message you a code to take it for free.

Home

www.pearlsasone.org

 

[pinkpearls]

thank you!