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Both necklaces look like imitations. If you still have any doubts, do the rubbing test. Rub one pearl in the necklace gently against another (but first wipe them clean with a damp microfiber cloth, as grime interferes with this test.) Gritty = likely real; smooth = likely fake. Sticky = grimy...

It's hard to say from the photos, but based on the way the pearls are attached to the clasp (with gimp/French wire), they could be cultured akoyas, in which case the black ones are dyed. Do you have any other pearls to do the following test with? This could be pearls you know to be real -- or...

I think they are bead nucleated freshwater pearls.

I have not had my imitation pearls lose coating just from being washed. Just saying. Of course if you are already seeing flaking, then of course beware.

My Majorica strands are not gritty. The coating is not actually made of fish scales per se, but from a substance derived from them, together with whatever lacquer they use.

Welcome to Pearl Guide! It is really hard to evaluate pearls that are on a dark background, and even harder if they are not in sharp focus. I see a bit of grime and that makes it hard to evaluate luster. Please do this: At a minimum, wipe them clean with a damp microfiber cloth. If they have...

Thin nacre would make them look browner, not bluer.

I think you may have a Majorica imitation strand. Majorica are the best of the best imitations. I have 2 Majorica imitation strands with 18K gold melon-style corrugated clasps like yours. Most Majorica have silver or vermeil (gold plated over silver) clasps, but not all. The uniformity of the...

I've seen those too but never heard of a specific name for them. They look like they would be very comfortable to wear.

I think they are dyed baroque akoyas. Not only is the color very consistent, but in your first photo I think that is a spot of dye concentration on the topmost pearl. But hey, they are pretty, so enjoy! I'm so glad you are happily stringing your pearls! It is so satisfying to know that the...

The small ones are quite small...so I lean toward FW.

I thought fake, too. Rubbing with acetone would take any fake pearl coating off the underlying bead, if you want to test it. Acetone is a solvent and it would dissolve the coating. Just test one bead.

It appears to be a nice strand of cultured akoya pearls. Is there a metal mark anywhere on the clasp? Sometimes it's on the tongue of the clasp.

Maybe use different colored clips?

Imitation, I agree 100%. It wasn't unusual for imitation strands to have silver clasps. My mother and MIL both had imitation strands with a silver clasp.

Gift link to article, for non-subscribers : https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/05/fashion/jewelry-pearls-demand.html?unlocked_article_code=1.gk4.k3dJ.qiKLC-LIMfLi&smid=url-share

You might still want to put a knot after a grouping of pearls. Maybe every 5 pearls, or whatever, as a design element and to increase the security of the strand.

For multistrand necklaces I would decide the length of the shortest strand first, then add 1 inch of length to each succeeding strand. e.g. 17", 18", 19" -- or 18", 19", 20". Or whatever you prefer. To hold pearls in their desired position on the beading board, string them temporarily onto...

I recommend you use a beading board and a pair of bead tweezers (they are spoon-shaped to pick up beads easily) and play around with them until you find an arrangement that pleases your eye. Don't worry too much about symmetry. I think you can come up with something interesting to look at and...

Yes. I admit I don't see the appeal of dyed black akoyas.