Miki by Zales? Got these for a steal. Help with Identification?

[PearlNerd]

Hi all, I’m a lurker that just made it official because: I got my first real strand of pearls today! I got these off of an auction website and need some help from you all. I think they are Mikimoto’s Signature Collection from Zales. The clasp would seem to indicate that. Since I got them for such a steal though I’m worried. I don’t want to parade around in my sort of Miki’s and celebrate the deal just yet! You here are all so knowledgeable that I wanted to post them and have you look for red flags. Do they look like the clasp has been switched? Like Akoya? Like fake? Do they look like appropriate quality? So many questions so some answers first:
1. They feel cool to the touch and gritty to the tooth
2. They are about 8mm each all pretty equal in size
3. They are slightly pinky in lustre
4. The clasp is marked 14k Zales no other marks, marked on the little hook part.
5. 17.5”strand

 

[Pearl Dreams]

The clasp It doesn't look like photos I've seen of Blue Lagoon ( a label of Mikimoto's), but googling I found this:
http://michaelbayjewelry.com/shop/m...pearl-necklace-17-5in-14k-gold-diamond-clasp/

That looks like the same clasp.

 

[PearlNerd]

Thank you pearl dreams! We are desperately hoping that is them. The diamonds tested as real at two different jewelry stores today!

 

[Marianne]

Welcome PearlNerd. Looks like a lovely strand!

 

[GemGeek]

Very pretty necklace! Congratulations.

 

[Parrot Lady]

Very nice! I say go ahead and parade around.

 

[pattye]

Pearlnerd,
Great find! Looks like the real deal, too! So happy for you! Welcome to the forum!

 

[PearlNerd]

Thank you all for your encouragement. I’m kind of embarrassed I only spent $30 with free shipping on these! I think they are just beautiful though. I have plans to have them restrung at Miki to make sure they are safe though there doesn’t appear to be any damage. I question how well they were cared for if they were let go for $30. I wonder what happened there? If they were lost to time or inherited? They seem newer though, I’ll never know.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

You got a steal! Sometimes people just don't know what their item is worth. This can easily happen when heirs have to deal with the belongings of their mother or grandmother. I've gotten some very nice akoya necklaces that way.

You could restring them yourself if you'd like to save the money. See the tutorial on restringing in the Lowly Beaders Club.

 

[Charlotta]

Beautiful strand. I once bought a graduated akoya strand for 10$, the pearls in that strand is very lustrous and even. It weren't even listed as cultured pearls, clearly they didn't now what they were selling. Noone else bidded because of the poor photos and the poor description. I thought that I had bought fakes, to practice my stringing on (it was'nt recently), imagine my surprise.

 

[BWeaves]

Nice real akoya pearls. Parade around!!!!

 

[Happy Huku]

Wear and enjoy your fantastic find!

 

[pattye]

Now this necklace will get the love and appreciation it deserves!