14k clasp indication of quality or what is the worse mismatch of clasp and pearls you have seen and why is it bad?

[A Breaker]

I am trying to very quickly understand clasp quality with pearl quality. What does a 14k claps generally mean? If I love a 14k clasp do I need an equally great pearl string? If I have a nice string, how bad is it to use a vintage base metal clasp? What about a sterling clasp with diamonds on a good string or does a 14k clasp make the string more valuable? I have seen several youtubes on High quality clasps on lower quality pearls...but I am still learning pearls and only know what I like. I need several new clasps for several pearls and while I love stringing...I don't want to do this several times.

 

[pearlescence]

If you are making up pearls and clasps for your own pleasure you go right ahead and do what you want. It is really only we trade people who are expected to match up quality of clasp with quality of pearl.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

You can certainly put any clasp on any strand of pearls. Of course a gold clasp increases the value of a necklace-- just because gold is more expensive-- but that won't matter until/unless you decide to sell the necklace.

Some people might hesitate to buy a good quality necklace if it has a poor quality clasp. They may not want to have to buy a better clasp and pay someone to restring it, as that would add significantly to the cost of the necklace.

They may not even believe the necklace is as good as you say it is, as a cheap clasp is incongruous with a high quality necklace.

As to putting a valuable clasp on a mediocre strand-- again, it doesn't matter until you want to sell it. Then someone may buy the necklace only for the clasp, and that could limit what they are willing to pay for it.

 

[pearlescence]

You can certainly put any clasp on any strand of pearls. Of course a gold clasp increases the value of a necklace-- just because gold is more expensive-- but that won't matter until/unless you decide to sell the necklace.

Some people might hesitate to buy a good quality necklace if it has a poor quality clasp. They may not want to have to buy a better clasp and pay someone to restring it, as that would add significantly to the cost of the necklace.

They may not even believe the necklace is as good as you say it is, as a cheap clasp is incongruous with a high quality necklace.

As to putting a valuable clasp on a mediocre strand-- again, it doesn't matter until you want to sell it. Then someone may buy the necklace only for the clasp, and that could limit what they are willing to pay for it.

Exactly.

 

[A Breaker]

Maybe I should have asked this a different way: If I want the quality of the pearl to match the quality of the clasp, how would I tell what is 14k gold clasp quality and what is sterling silver quality? If I see a 14k gold clasp does that indicate great quality? Does Sterling silver mean only good quality?

 

[Pearl Dreams]

If you are buying pre-owned vintage jewelry, then it may date back to when gold was not very expensive, and thus a gold clasp may not indicate high end jewelry, but just "nice" jewelry.

And Mikimoto used to use silver clasps decades ago.
I think the relationship isn't so straightforward when it comes to vintage jewelry.

Even now, in many stores gold is often used to set really poor quality, glass filled rubies, that are just about worthless.

 

[pearlescence]

Clasp and pearls should be proportionate, in metal, size and style. So you wouldn't expect to come across perfect 15mm gold South Sea pearls with a tiny filigree clasp, or conversely, a platinum and diamond clasp on a strand of freshwater potato pearls.

 

[A Breaker]

With Vintage Jewelry...it is not simple. During WWII, silver was not rationed so there is either sterling (a little gold) or super cheap non-metal during WWII. Pre-WWII was the depression and not a lot of jewelry (that I can afford). Then there is the whole pearls are hard to get and diamonds were getting more air time post WWII along with cheap jewelry...the change to 80's "rice pearls"... Pearls are a really interesting piece in vintage jewelry, the technology of pearls means they don't fit like I would think into Vintage jewelry. But I am still trying to wrap my head around what I want to do with a bunch of pearls and vintage clasps......some pearls are really nice, a bunch of "rice pearls" (no idea how I would tell quality there) and some interesting potato pearls shapes. I think I will use interesting clasps on the potato pearls and mix them with other things. The rice pearls and Nice pearls...hmm.

 

[A Breaker]

How would I tell quality on rice pearls from the Y2K? (Several have 14k clasps) Can I just use them like seed beads and make interesting Victorian style jewelry with them and not worry about stringing "expensive" pearls and cheap pearls together?

 

[BWeaves]

I have Rice Krispie pearls from my Mom from when that type of pearl was new. The necklaces all have 18K yellow gold beads and 14K yellow gold clasps with rubies and sapphires. They were expensive necklaces when she bought them. Like any other kind of pearl, there are nice rice pearls and there are crappy rice pearls. If they look good to you, string them however you want. You're the one wearing them. If you're stringing them for sale, then you need to decide if they will sell for the price you want to get.

 

[A Breaker]

Great advice! I am stringing it for myself, but I often get tired of things and sell them. If I love them, usually someone else does too.

 

[ennui]

Clasp and pearls should be proportionate, in metal, size and style. So you wouldn't expect to come across perfect 15mm gold South Sea pearls with a tiny filigree clasp, or conversely, a platinum and diamond clasp on a strand of freshwater potato pearls.

I agree, you want your clasp to blend with the strand, unless it's Cartier level, in which case you might wear the clasp in the front, as a focal point.
I think overall, you want your clasp to be secure.
Lots of people buy old pearls on eBay, solely for a pretty, vintage clasp.

 

[Shani]

I am new into the jewelry crafting hobby and I have invested in some nice pearls to use, but my eyes roll back in my head for the cost of gold clasps etc. My next solution will be gold filled. At present I am using what I can afford and like because I only have to please myself or my family. I think if I were to go into selling some things, I would likely go with gold filled as a compromise.

 

[A Breaker]

Shani 2 thoughts: Bella Findings has a fairly good selections for reasonable price (there are others). Findings are usually tied to the price of gold or silver, so with gold high the clasps are expensive. Wait to buy? The other option is since restringing is fairly easy: look & see if you can find used pearl or faux pearl necklaces & reuse the clasp. Some faux pearls have 14k gold clasps, since the coating is often coming off the faux pearls... You can throw those away & use the clasp. Or watch eBay to see a great clasp & poor pearls...get it and change things.

 

[MotherOfPearlTrumpet]

Hummm, I'm seeing $37-$53 for a small to medium size filagree 14K pearl clasp (on EBay, Etsy and Bellafindigns.com...usually with free shipping (if you order enough from Bella it's free shipping). I have about 15 of these in various sizes and styles in a box of findings from all the necklaces I purchased and then put better clasps on them. Scrap value from gold buyers is pretty minimal considering the price of gold and selling platforms charge upwards of 20% for me to sell them, so it just isn't worth it to me. I just keep them. We almost need a person to person sale for things like this so others can get real gold for a better price.
An aside...I once found a barrel-twist 3-strand bracelet clasp with 2 matching barrel-twist separators literally in my BUTTON BOX! (of all places). Little did I know that someday they would be worth so much! They are even marked 14K. So, I had fun doing a triple strand pearl bracelet on those valuable findings that I literally "found!" @PearlDreams is right...years ago when gold wasn't as expensive...basic bead bracelets used 14K findings.

I've been restringing some 3mm dyed round to off-round blueish/purpleish/aubergine baby freshwater strands with gold filagree clasps because the younger generation likes tiny pearls and understated jewelry. I found the pearls-6 to ONE gold filagree clasp for $99 on EBay some time ago and purchased the last 2 they had (it was a bead warehouse sale). The restrung necklaces are bringing upwards of $150 per strand with that little 14K gold filagree clasp...so a pretty good return on that investment-of course I've only sold 3 so I have several left. The younger girls love them. It's all about finding what is currently popular and desired. I, like you, string mostly for myself, and sell other items infrequently. I don't have an active store or platform.

 

[Shani]

Shani 2 thoughts: Bella Findings has a fairly good selections for reasonable price (there are others). Findings are usually tied to the price of gold or silver, so with gold high the clasps are expensive. Wait to buy? The other option is since restringing is fairly easy: look & see if you can find used pearl or faux pearl necklaces & reuse the clasp. Some faux pearls have 14k gold clasps, since the coating is often coming off the faux pearls... You can throw those away & use the clasp. Or watch eBay to see a great clasp & poor pearls...get it and change things.

Yeah. I am trying to avoid buying from US suppliers due to the political situation so Unfortunately Bella is out for me. I will keep an eye out for some nice faux stands though!

 

[A Breaker]

Oh...Yeah I think you are in Canada.. that's tense right now. EBay & Etsy both have sellers in Canada for new findings or reuse pearl clasps. I would really check feedback on both for any seller. There is even a couple thrift stores that sell on eBay in Canada. I have even seen a couple of vintage pearl clasps being sold by themselves.

 

[KarinK]

If you search for options on Etsy you can filter for country and the price you pay is the final price. If there is anything like duty or VAT it is included in the final price. I live in Denmark where anything from outside of the EU is charged with 25% VAT. Until most online sellers started handling the paperwork I also had to pay a handling fee of $20 so having it all included i the final price with no extra handling fee is great for me.

I was just thinking today how Etsy and others will handle the back and forth so maybe keep staying away from countries making many, sudden changes

 

[A Breaker]

KarinK.... Looking locally seems brilliant! But there are always people getting rid of things, either giving to charities or reselling in every country. I also recently looked up thread options in EU and while hard for me (living in the US) to find...there were options. Mikimoto uses recycled polyester thread now... So finding the correct polyester might just take more looking...but jewelers or their restringers probably source in country.