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When I look at other people's pictures I'm often positive I know what they have. When I look at my own pearls in real life, I can have a lot of questions. That's why I appreciate all the opinions I've gotten. My skill as a photographer are lacking, because these pearls are lovely in person...

There's nothing about them that says bead or not bead. I can't seem to photograph the colors accurately. This image, next to some CCF, is close.

Thanks to both of you for your replies. I was thinking blue akoyas, too. I have some baroque blue akoyas in rings and these looked very similar. I needed unbiased opinions, though, and I appreciate yours.

This is a necklace with a 14k clasp. Size of the pearls is 8.0-8.5mm. I have no history on them other than they're vintage. I bought them because they seemed to want to come live with me. I don't know if the color is natural or enhanced. I don't see any pooling of dye. The first two pictures...

I remember first seeing sets like this in mall jewelry stores in the early nineties. In the late nineties, when eBay was new, these sets were listed there regularly. I don't know what the jeweler meant by "really old." My guess is these are in the neighborhood of 25 years old. I agree with those...

One of the advantages of vintage akoyas is that the layer of nacre is thicker. Since tissue nucleated cultured freshwater pearls are mostly nacre anyway, age doesn't provide that benefit. You can find some information about the history of Chinese cultured pearls here. At this point in your pearl...

Pearly Lady, looks like you're having some success in your search. This is probably a hectic time, but if you're able to post a picture when you get your pearls, that would be great. Best wishes for a long and happy marriage. Karin, one of these days I hope to figure out how to be smarter than...

Yes, exactly right.

Just talking about vintage akoyas, strands with plain clasps often sell on eBay for very reasonable prices, similar pearls with premium clasps sell for several times more and brand name pearls sell for (what I consider) ridiculous amounts.

As Pearl Dreams noted, tissue nucleated freshwater pearls would be more durable than akoyas. How durable your pearls need to be depends on how often you're going to wear them. It sounds like you plan to keep it to special occasions mostly, so durability is probably a secondary consideration...

Re: Your question about the pearls on eBay. As a comparison, I bought a very nice 24 inch necklace of 7mm pearls with a plain 14k clasp for $34 on eBay and a 29 inch necklace of graduated baroque pearls with a tiny diamond in the 14k clasp for $88. The pearls in the auction look nice. I wouldn't...

Maybe your grandfather said "natural color" pearls and the message just got lost over the years. Regardless, your pearls aren't exactly "low end." They're lustrous and the color is natural. Described correctly, they'd likely sell on eBay for more than a similar size and quality strand of round...

You're exactly right, cabochris. On the Mikimoto website it specifically says they won't authenticate as Mikimoto a piece that doesn't have the Mikimoto trademark. Given that, I wouldn't list an item as Mikimoto unless I could clearly show potential buyers the trademark. I think...

What a sweet treasure of a remembrance you have, cj415. My guess is those are nice quality akoya pearls. I hope someone in the family will wear and enjoy them. You're right, putting a value on something is tricky, so please understand this is just a guestimate. You can buy good quality pearls...