What are they...50's - 60's

[A Breaker]

Help, what are these pearls? These are vintage from 1950's - 1960's (by the clasp) and I am guessing they are akoyas...but they look strange. There are no knots, but these are lightly gritty. Thanks

 

[StarryPearl]

They look like baroque Akoyas to me.

 

[A Breaker]

I have never seen them before.... Do you think they have a bead? I know tastes come & go, but would these have more value than round akoyas with less narcre? or less value back in the day? The string is broken & needs knots would you put on a new clasp?

 

[CortezPearls]

How big are these? I see some smaller sized ones that look very Akoya to me, but then...what sizes are we talking about?

 

[A Breaker]

Around 8mm. Douglas..In general for 1950's: were round, but thin nacre more valuable than baroque with thick nacre? Or is big baroque more valuable than small round? Any idea historic valuing in the 50's?

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Thick nacre does not guarantee luster.
And women like round pearls!
My guess-- round akoya pearls were more generally desired/desirable then as now, and thus were more valuable than baroque pearls then as now.

 

[ennui]

Thick nacre does not guarantee luster.
And women like round pearls!
My guess-- round akoya pearls were more generally desired/desirable then as now, and thus were more valuable than baroque pearls then as now.

I agree with all of the above ... these pearls look like baroque Akoya, which would be less expensive than round Akoya.

 

[CortezPearls]

I agree with @ennui and @Pearl Dreams

 

[labarker]

I agree with all of the above ... these pearls look like baroque Akoya, which would be less expensive than round Akoya.

But they have such good lustre. I go for lustre before roundness, though I’d rather baroque pearls weren’t too misshapen.

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

We can't have baby fine skin as adults. Pearls can't either.

Thick nacre is great, but juvenile surfaces are infinitely more lustrous, uniform and valuable as gemstones.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Scarcity also tends to increase value, and non-round pearls are more common than perfectly round ones.
Thus perfectly round pearls, being scarcer, are more valuable.

Individual preferences vary, of course, but we are talking about market value.

 

[labarker]

Help, what are these pearls? These are vintage from 1950's - 1960's (by the clasp) and I am guessing they are akoyas...but they look strange. There are no knots, but these are lightly gritty. ThanksView attachment 472359

They’re lovely.

 

[A Breaker]

Well...you won't believe it, but I found a vintage Mikimoto piece with baroque pearls! Crazy.

 

[labarker]

Well...you won't believe it, but I found a vintage Mikimoto piece with baroque pearls! Crazy.

They sound lovely. I have some lovely baroque freshwater pearls with every bit the lustre of the best Akoya pearls. They are shaped Ike onions.

 

[A Breaker]

They sound lovely. I have some lovely baroque freshwater pearls with every bit the lustre of the best Akoya pearls. They are shaped Ike onions.

I haven't seen freshwater baroques that look like saltwater baroques...do post a photo!

 

[labarker]

I haven't seen freshwater baroques that look like saltwater baroques...do post a photo!

Right. I’ll do my best. They’re a lot smaller than the photo shows, of course, possibly 7.5-8mm

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Right. I’ll do my best. They’re a lot smaller than the photo shows, of course, possibly 7.5-8mm

Those look like baroque akoyas. I have an endless strand that is very much like that, and around the same size.

Edted to add photos I just took now. Bad lighting, but you'll get the idea.

 

[labarker]

Those look like baroque akoyas. I have an endless strand that is very much like that, and around the same size.

I always thought baroque Akoyas were never onion shaped. Well, I read that somewhere. I don’t know whether I could find the listing where I bought them. I’ll have a go though. Probably a breach of copyright.

Estate Sale - Stamped - Pearl Necklace | Trade Me Marketplace

Estate Sale Unsure of Value or type of Pearl Not professionally tested sorry hence the $1 No Reserve price. Beautiful luster hard to capture in photos. ...

www.trademe.co.nz

 

[Pearl Dreams]

See photos I just added.

 

[labarker]

Those look like baroque akoyas. I have an endless strand that is very much like that, and around the same size.

Edted to add photos I just took now. Bad lighting, but you'll get the idea.

View attachment 475699
View attachment 475700