Found this 5-8mm graduated vintage akoya strand today!

[Pearl Dreams]

Must be my lucky day!

Here are my new lustrous beauties, bought today for the absurd price of $5.00. They were mixed in with an assortment of costume jewelry.

The end pearls are 5mm and the center pearl is just over 8mm. The body color of the pearls is white.

The cute little fishhook clasp looks like back-to back hearts--it's 12mm long, 14K gold.

The strand had been restrung on what looks like nylon thread. I don't care for the size and stiffness of the knots, so I will be doing it over. Right now it measures 20" but I think it will be closer to 18" when restrung on PowerPro (I'm all out and need to place an order for the thread.)

These are a little larger and more lustrous than the 3.5 momme strand I found at the consignment shop a few months back. (Link to that thread: https://www.pearl-guide.com/threads/vintage-graduated-akoya-strand-from-consignment-shop.6365/)
I wonder if they date back to the same era? And whether they would also be considered a 3.5 momme strand?

 

[Daddys Little Pearl]

Lucky you, I love these old pearls, but never found any this cheap! Are the clasps marked Japan? A lot of mine are. Would love to know the history of why these are called 3.5 momme, I do know the momme is a weight, but I see these graduated strands a lot and even in the ones I own some are much heavier than others, plus I have one strand of graduated Mikis, are they considered a 3.5 momme also? Just curious. Yes definitely re string and knot with silk. With your experience, back before the Mikimoto process started, were there strands of graduated made of natural pearls?

Daddys Little Pearl

 

[Pearl Dreams]

The clasp doesn't mention Japan.

Here is a little article about the 3.5 momme strands: http://www.imperial-deltah.com/news2/pearls_and_occupied_japan.htm

The idea was to keep the total pearl weight down (and therefore the price, too) and somehow they settled on that particular total pearl weight (i.e. 3.5 momme), but perhaps there was a weight range in these necklaces?

I'd be surprised if the graduation of pearl strands was limited to cultured pearls.

 

[Happy Huku]

You are a clever little pearl shopper, aren't you! $5!!!
Look forward to seeing the finished article on a pretty neck shot.
Congratulations and thanks for sharing.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Thanks Happy Huku!

I got a neck shot pre-restringing, now that it's daylight. Taken indoors near open door; I'll be interested to see how much length is taken up when it's restrung.
Second shot is outdoors. It's a bright overcast day.

 

[Caitlin]

gasp, choke, cough! What a deal! Those have fabulous luster and you captured it well.

 

[pattye]

Pearl Dreams,

What a find, indeed you have a keen eye! I best be checking some of the resale and consignment ships around here~some sweet little pearls may need to be rescued~

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Thanks ladies! I think the strand was overlooked because it was small, and the luster didn't show up well until I cleaned them with one of Jeremy's wet towlettes-- and then washed them properly after I realized the thread was nylon and wouldn't stretch. I can still see some grime in there near the drill holes but will take care of that when I restring them.

I've had them on all day and I don't mind the 20" length at all.

 

[dkan 168]

Excellent find, well done!

DK

 

[Happy Huku]

Thank you! They look so pretty. Look forward to the post re-stringing shots.

They almost look too tightly strung to me, like they don't lie comfortably with themselves.
Is that the photo or the nylon or just me being shortsighted?!

The length suits you too.
Great lustre!

 

[Pearl Dreams]

It's the nylon. The knots are oddly shaped and stiff. PowerPro makes nicer knots.

 

[Happy Huku]

Right, got the picture! I know you talked about it in your first post but I couldn't really see it until you put them on.
They will look soooo good once you have worked your PowerPro magic on them.
Look forward to the up-date.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

I restrung the pearls on 10# powerPro, and it ended up exactly 18 inches long. There are 77 pearls in the strand.
This fine thread makes tight, small knots.
Having cleaned the pearls better, I am delighted with their high luster and mostly clean surface.

These photos were taken under my daylight lamp; tomorrow I'll take photos in daylight.

 

[pattye]

Just beautiful!

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Thank you, Pattye-- they are relatively little but they do shine!

 

[Happy Huku]

Oooh, don't they look extra special now?!
Thank you for keeping us up-dated and I look forward to a new neck shot.
You have a great talent for finding these treasures and bringing them back to life. As I said in another post, I have a very soft spot for graduated akoyas and it is lovely to see them loved and cared for.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Thanks for sharing my pleasure, Happy Huku! I like that the older akoyas had thicker nacre.

Here is a shot on a sunny day near my open door, plus one outdoors:

 

[Happy Huku]

Oh my goodness, superb! Thank you for the photo, they always look so much better worn.
That 8mm middle one is a beauty, really sets the strand off well and such a pretty colour for you.

 

[Lady_Disdain]

They look perfect! The shorter length works better with the graduated pearls, in my opinion.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

...The shorter length works better with the graduated pearls, in my opinion.

I agree entirely.