Recent content by Pearl Dreams

Cultured pearls and synthetic (lab created) stones differ in that cultured pearls are formed by live mollusks in a natural environment-- the bead nucleus made of shell is provided (or just a bit of donor mantle tissue in the case of many freshwater pearls), but the mollusk does the work of...

If you think you'd like to find more affordable golden SSP, I suggest you have a look at circled (circlé) shapes. Circled south seas pearls are the least expensive shape, because they are more common. I bought mine from Cees Van Oije of Amsterdam Pearls. Cees is a member of Pearl Guide also...

You are correct! They are freshwater pearls from China-- their eggy shapes give them away. Unfortunately I think you will find there is not a lot of demand for used, off-round freshwater pearls. There are so many of them out there. I recommend you do a search on eBay for SOLD pearls like...

There were two threads with the same topic, so I locked the other one to avoid confusion. I can't see how to merge the threads, but this was the first one, which has some replies. Help Identifying an Antique Seed Pearl and Diamond Necklace...

I don't know how to merge this thread with the other identical one, but please continue discussion on the other thread (I'm locking this one to avoid confusion). https://www.pearl-guide.com/threads/help-identifying-an-antique-seed-pearl-and-diamond-necklace-do-these-look-natural.465096/

What are they, exactly?

I am going to have to read that a few times before I can picture it!

The cream color of this vintage Mikimoto momme strand doesn't go with most of my clothes, but I think today it went well with my linen top. It has the cutest little clasp, with a teeny tiny pearl.

@NickMasa, They are unquestionably dyed freshwater pearls.

@A Breaker, Years ago a reputable jeweler (not at a mall) offered to clean my diamond ring, which dated back to the 1930s (it was my husband's great aunt's ring). That evening my husband looked at it with his loupe and discovered that one of the 4 prongs was now missing. Perhaps the metal was...

Please post a photo of the underside also.

Post it on YouTube and then attach the link here using the Media icon you see above the posting field. The Media icon looks like this:

They have such nice luster!

1st photo: All freshwater pearls from China. The gray and black ones are dyed. 2nd photo: Also FW from China. A few with tails look like earlier 2nd harvest pearls.

The shapes, the surface appearance, the luster, the colors, the blemishes...when you've seen a number of them, you just know. Have you taken the Pearl As One course yet? I'll send you a link to take it for free. www.pearlsasone.org