Please help identify these , 65 pearls not sure where from, my mother gave them to me thank you
- Thread starter Lora123!
- Start date
Pearl Dreams
Pearl Enthusiast
- Joined
- Sep 24, 2007
- Messages
- 9,804
Looks to me like a strand of akoya pearls. The clasp seems to read 9 KT or 8 KT, can't tell.
They could use cleaning and restringing! You can find a tutorial and some videos on the Lowly Beaders Club section. Many of us restring our own pearls; it isn't hard.
They could use cleaning and restringing! You can find a tutorial and some videos on the Lowly Beaders Club section. Many of us restring our own pearls; it isn't hard.
Thank you for your help , don’t think they have been worn since 1960Looks to me like a strand of akoya pearls. The clasp seems to read 9 KT or 8 KT, can't tell.
They could use cleaning and restringing! You can find a tutorial and some videos on the Lowly Beaders Club section. Many of us restring our own pearls; it isn't hard.
my mum got them from a friend in London back then Very scared to re string !! Might clean them though
thanks again
Pearl Dreams
Pearl Enthusiast
- Joined
- Sep 24, 2007
- Messages
- 9,804
You literally cannot hurt the pearls by restringing. It's only thread and overhand knots!
If you decide you want to give it a try, here is a link to the tutorial:
If you decide you want to give it a try, here is a link to the tutorial:
Do you think I should get them valued and cleaned properly at a jewellers?You literally cannot hurt the pearls by restringing. It's only thread and overhand knots!
If you decide you want to give it a try, here is a link to the tutorial:
Pearl Dreams
Pearl Enthusiast
- Joined
- Sep 24, 2007
- Messages
- 9,804
Washing them is easy! You can do it yourself.
Swish a bit of mild soap in some water. I prefer to use distilled water to avoid both chlorine and possible hard water minerals, which combine with soap to make a hard to remove scum. (I speak from experience. Our well water is hard.)
Then soak the pearls in the solution for 15 minutes or so, and then remove grime with a soft cloth, cotton swabs, or a soft brush.
Rinse in more distilled water and then lay them on a towel to dry for 24 hours or so. (The silk inside the drill hole takes a while to dry.)
At that point you can restring them, if you like.
Now-- their value.
Value can be sentimental value (which no one can put a price on), replacement value, or resale value.
An appraisal would tell you replacement value (for insurance purposes), but these pearls are not so very valuable, and I don't think they need to be insured.
If you wish to sell them, then you are really talking about resale value, which is lower than replacement value. Unfortunately pearls do not tend to retain value on resale. But you can get an idea of what you might get for them by searching on eBay for SOLD necklaces like yours.
Swish a bit of mild soap in some water. I prefer to use distilled water to avoid both chlorine and possible hard water minerals, which combine with soap to make a hard to remove scum. (I speak from experience. Our well water is hard.)
Then soak the pearls in the solution for 15 minutes or so, and then remove grime with a soft cloth, cotton swabs, or a soft brush.
Rinse in more distilled water and then lay them on a towel to dry for 24 hours or so. (The silk inside the drill hole takes a while to dry.)
At that point you can restring them, if you like.
Now-- their value.
Value can be sentimental value (which no one can put a price on), replacement value, or resale value.
An appraisal would tell you replacement value (for insurance purposes), but these pearls are not so very valuable, and I don't think they need to be insured.
If you wish to sell them, then you are really talking about resale value, which is lower than replacement value. Unfortunately pearls do not tend to retain value on resale. But you can get an idea of what you might get for them by searching on eBay for SOLD necklaces like yours.
