Did I buy a fake Mikimoto necklace?

[parismom00]

Hi all, New here and need your expert assistance in indentifying a pearl necklace I recently bought on eBay as a graduation gift for my daughter, thinking this is a Mikimoto necklace. But after studying a bit about pearls, I am not quite sure if this is a real deal. The pearls are dainty and illustrious and clasp is metal, like a shiny steel and has 14K with a M. The M does not have a clam/oyster shell around. There is a tiny pearl on the clasp. See photos. Thank you and god bless

The eBay item number:146033640391, seller pugsly23. https://www.ebay.com/itm/146033640391

 

[pattye]

Welcome to the forum, parismom. It's very difficult to evaluate the quality of the pearls from your photos because of the black fabric. Please retake the photos on a paper towel. Is it possible the markings on the back of the clasp are WG K14?

 

[pearlescence]

The knotting is not great quality, very wispy, but that could be a bad re-string
WG is not me.

 

[parismom00]

Thank you both for chiming in. Here are some new pics, to help solve the mystery. And yes the markings could be WG K14, but not 100% sure.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Do you like them enough for the price, even if they are not Mikimoto brand?

 

[parismom00]

Do you like them enough for the price, even if they are not Mikimoto brand?

They were sold to me as Mikimoto, and I paid $300 including taxes. See the eBay link. If they are indeed Mikimoto, I know what I am getting quality and valuewise but if they aren’t, I don’t know if they are worth the price and that’s what I wanted to find out. I purchased these as a graduation gift and truly a first piece of (quality) jewelry that my daughter would wear professionally as she embarks on a new career and special ocassions. So you see, there is that sentimental value which I think is priceless.

 

[Pearl-love]

Just my two-cents - I don’t think anyone would be selling a Mikimoto pearl necklace for $300. And you noted that there is no clamshell around the M. Can you return the necklace?

 

[Pearl Dreams]

The listing states the seller does not accept returns.

 

[pattye]

Only Mikimoto will be able to authenticate the necklace. Do the pearls have high luster and few blemishes to your eyes? I'd take the necklace to a jewelry store that sells high quality pearls and compare them. In searching online I found several 60's vintage Miki necklaces with clasps that had WG for white gold and K14 for 14 karat. However, the clasps also had a small Miki logo, not the large one we see currently.
Having the pearls professionally cleaned, restrung with new French Wire will make them a sentimental and worthy gift for your daughter.

 

[parismom00]

Only Mikimoto will be able to authenticate the necklace. Do the pearls have high luster and few blemishes to your eyes? I'd take the necklace to a jewelry store that sells high quality pearls and compare them. In searching online I found several 60's vintage Miki necklaces with clasps that had WG for white gold and K14 for 14 karat. However, the clasps also had a small Miki logo, not the large one we see currently.
Having the pearls professionally cleaned, restrung with new French Wire will make them a sentimental and worthy gift for your daughter.

Thank you for your insights, yes the pearls do have high luster and little to no blemishes. I will take them to a jeweler to verify authenticity.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

It's clearly a very pretty graduated akoya pearl necklace; your jeweler will be able to tell you whether the metal is 14K gold, as I expect it is. The jeweler will not be able to tell you if they are Mikimoto brand pearls. Only Mikimoto can authenticate them, but that service would cost you more or less the same as you paid for the pearls.

In my opinion you got a very nice akoya strand for a reasonable price. Restrung it will make a beautiful-- and sentimental-- gift!

I don't know if you are aware of this, but there is a shortage of akoya pearls due to mortality of the oysters, and prices of akoyas have skyrocketed. You got a good deal in my opinion.

 

[parismom00]

Thank you. Great information indeed, and lots of education for a novice. And I agree the pearls are aesthetically pleasing and truly beautiful so restringing is definitely an option I am considering so my daughter can enjoy them for a long time. Thanks again.

 

[Pella]

Thank you. Great information indeed, and lots of education for a novice. And I agree the pearls are aesthetically pleasing and truly beautiful so restringing is definitely an option I am considering so my daughter can enjoy them for a long time. Thanks again.

Personally I think they are gorgeous and I think that you got a very good deal and any girl would be thrilled with them. If you wish to make it more personal for your daughter, then perhaps you could restring them yourself. It is pretty easy and Pearl Dreams has a tutorial on this site and Pattye has kits in her Etsy shop. It is probably more straightforward than you think. But a warning - from then on it is a slippery slope. I know that for a fact!

 

[Pearl-love]

Yes - beautiful pearls! I’m sure your daughter will cherish the necklace for years to come!

 

[Shani]

I was looking at the close ups, and noticed that some were almost tear drop shaped, not perfectly round. I am pretty new here but I was wondering if Miki would release any pearls that weren't perfectly round? I dunno. However, I still think you got a really pretty strand for a good price!