Estate Pearls

[Lynn Doud]

These were in an estate I purchased. They feel smooth and I do not see any markings on the clasp. One strand is not attached (happened while I was taking pictures). Do they have any value?

 

[kiwipaul]

If you review this thread https://www.pearl-guide.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3592 from 2009 you'll see that La Tausca was a line of high quality faux pearls.

Faux pearls have no commercial value these days unless the clasp has a gold content and is stamped 14k or 10k or similar. If the clasp is real gold you should get the stones checked by a jeweler or gemologist, according to the eBay guide quoted in the thread La Tausca did use diamonds in some of their clasps.

 

[pattye]

Welcome, Lynn,

Pretty imitation pearls, and delightful shell shape box! Hope the strand can be reattached easily. Vintage jewelry has some value as a collectible, but not for the pearls. How great if the clasp were karat gold and diamond!

 

[Pearl Dreams]

If you run a search for completed listings on eBay for La Tausca, as of now you will see one necklace that sold for $22 (probably for the value of the 14K "diamond" clasp), another erroneously listed under Fine Jewelry that sold for $20 (seller failed to mention they are imitation; buyer may have hoped they were real), and a bunch of unsold necklaces.

But there are a number of ornamental brass trinket boxes of the same brand that sold very nicely.

It's true that most pre-owned imitation pearls don't sell for much, if at all. Majorica brand are the only imitation pearls I know of that tend to sell well.