hi can anyone tell me what these are please

[johncarp]

18" long each pearl is about 6mm to 8mm gritty on the teeth cold to the touch then warms up, has a knot between each pearl (looks like silk) on the clasp it says 14/20 and at the side of the 14/20 there is something else like a Z? or something like this <? thanks for any info

 

[jshepherd]

They are Chinese freshwater pearls and the clasp is gold plated.

 

[dkan 168]

Jeremy, how could you tell the clasp is gold plated without close up please as it looks like the 14k clasp that I can see on Bella Findings?

DK

 

[Marianne]

That clasp style is made using a variety of metals, from base to platinum. The 14/20 stamp is used on gold filled (rolled gold) findings.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

My understanding is that 14/20 refers to gold filled, in which the gold is 1/20 the weight of the item, by law.

"Gold filled" is significantly more durable than "gold plated" (electroplated), although the plating on better costume jewelry can be quite durable.

 

[dkan 168]

Guess what, I did not read the text of the original post, and was wondering how Jeremy could tell based on the photo alone as I couldn't! DOH!!!

DK

 

[jshepherd]

You're right. It's gold filled, not gold plated. I just remember seeing those clasps with the 14/20 stamp in Beijing. It's what most of the sellers there used, but they always called it 10 karat - even though it wasn't.

 

[KarinK]

Hi Johncarp,

What it translates to is that the necklace is made of real pearls, has no monetary value but can be very pretty just the same.

- Karin

 

[johncarp]

thanks everyone for the info