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I asked that the necklace be returned without a full report, that's why. I am going to send it out for a second opinion -- hoping to find someone with greater familiarity with this issue. At the moment, my suspicion is that antique pearls are being penalized for a procedure that did not exist...

These are saltwater pearls, something that has already been determined by lab analysis. Also, they are larger than keshi size. And this arrangement of pearls and gold links is something not uncommon in American jewelry of the period 1890-1915.

Hi all, I'm having an identification problem with an antique pearl necklace. I have just spoken with the lab gemologist, who tells me these are saltwater "keshi" pearls and must be classified as cultured. However, based on everything I know, this necklace dates from ca. 1910, unaltered...

Gorgeous pearls! I agree with those who say Red Sea. The clasp has got to be platinum, and is Edwardian (1900-1920) in style rather than 1920s, although of course older styles can always continue to be made in a later period. Everything about them indicates natural pearls. I would add one...

I looked at the ones you mentioned and they all appear to be original. The snake was a very popular motif in Victorian jewelry, and there are endless variations on it. (Not as many, say, as on the starburst/sunburst theme used for pendants and brooches -- if I had a dollar for every time I saw...

I would absolutely bet this one is natural. It would be very tempting if it weren't a snake! I don't know the technical way to separate natural Mississippi from later cultured freshwater pearls. But in this case, other factors make it easy. The pearl appears to be not only original, but...

Hi Bodecia, I've been looking through older threads on this forum, and saw your beautiful brooch. If it is American (almost certainly, by the look of it) and 12K, then it is pre-1906. The 1906 Metals Stamping Act eliminated 12K and anything under 10K gold for use in jewelry. The trombone...

Thai gemstone sellers on eBay Thai gemstone sellers on eBay I would like to add a comment here about similar eBay sellers based in Thailand. I have not, and never will, buy pearls from these sellers so my comment is limited to gemstones. I have found that many Thai sellers are reliable for...

Thanks, Elisa, to you & all for the encouragement! :) It will likely be two or three weeks before I get the certificates on some smaller natural pearl pieces I have.

Yes, it would be fascinating to find out. Ideally, if the records were set up in a database, you would be able to search by type of jewelry, number of pearls, etc. There are many issues with antique jewelry that have nothing to do with workmanship or durability. For instance, there is FASHION...

Necklace Sold! Necklace Sold! I am very happy to report that yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. and Mrs. Tom Stern in San Francisco. It was wonderful to talk, rather than type, about pearls! Dr. Stern, who has handled pearls I can only dream about, bought the Raymond Yard necklace...

Hi Tom, I'd love to show them to you -- I will mouse around here to figure out how to send a private message, as I'm around Monday and Tuesday. Best Regards, Alison

No, I don't have the bill of sale. But I have no reason whatsoever to doubt the word of this family. It's common for information to become muddled or lost down through the generations. I don't know how the original clasp came to be replaced, but I can tell you the one that was put on was...

If you go to http://naturalpearlbusiness.blogspot.com/, which belongs to Dr. Stern, you will see I posted a comment there in November. On January 7th, a member of this board, effisk, replied to my comment and referred me here. I then applied for registration, which was completed on January...

Certificate Scan Certificate Scan I got hold of my dealer friend before he left the house. He scanned the certificate and e-mailed me the file. The copy isn't sharp, but the attachment size limitation means I can't use a large file. I hope you will at least be able to to see the major...

No, I am the owner of the necklace and certificate. Right this moment both are with a friend who is showing the pearls to a private client this weekend. I had taken photos of the pearls before sending them for certification, and that's what I have posted. (As I mentioned, they were restrung...

Yes, they are incredibly pinkish and matched! That is what makes this necklace so astonishing, besides the weight. I've had white natural pearls in the past, but never pinkish, and never over 4mm. These pearls and their cert are out this afternoon being shown -- if they come back, I will try...

Hi Miriam, this was from an estate sale.

These are absolutely 100% natural, and the color and luster are amazing! Of course I was anxious until I had the cert in hand (and talked to the examiner), because there is always the nagging thought, what if l am wrong? But I think this shows the quality of Raymond Yard's goods -- he loved...

Thanks! It is truly beautiful and the price is $7,500 (priced for a dealer to turn around again)