My Natural Pearl Collection

[MSC]

Thanks, Dave, that is very enlightening. I feel like I need to see what the pearls from European river mussels look like. Sounds like a google search is in order.

 

[MSC]

Edwardian(?)/Arts and Crafts(?) Pearl Necklace
Necklace length is 16 inches. No hallmarks.
The pendant is 1.25 inches in length, including cap and bail.
The pendant pearl is 21mm in length and 18mm wide and 12mm thick. There is a drill hole at the top, it goes all the way through. I've thought about setting a stone into each side, but it's just a thought at this point. The cap has a pretty fluer-de-lis design around the bottom.
The chain has 9 pearls of 4mm size. They are a bit dirty.

 

[Isi]

Yes indeed, France had once its river pearls, in the northern part of the country, but the production was very reduced, and apart from local jewelry, they were not much and widely used (compared to Scotland and Germany for instance, where these river pearls were a big affair.).
I think France has always favoured more the salt pearls that came from eastern parts from the world, with which there were many commercial exchanges, from a very long time ago.
Besides, our margaritifera margaritifera from french cold rivers gave rather smallish and roundish pearls, not these long wing shapes that were (and still are ?) found in the Mississipi river for instance.
Empress Jos?phine (wife of Napol?on Ist) tried to breed pearl mussels in the ponds and rivulets in the gardens of her parisian castle La Malmaison ; but it didn't work. She loved pearls and probably expected to gather herself her own necklaces !

 

[MSC]

Awesome information, Isi, thank you for sharing! I spent some time trying to find out this sort of info online, but you were a better source than Google. I am still researching the other hallmark, so hopefully that will provide fruitful. I looked at photos of french art nouveau jewelry with pearls and you are right, I did not see any use of wing pearls. So it would seem that despite the design style looking french to me, the pendant is indeed american.
When I tried a search of european river pearls I only got results for american and scottish river pearls, so it is good to have a species to try a search with as well.
If I were Empress Josephine, I would try to breed pearl mussels too!

 

[MSC]

American River Pearl and Sapphire Brooch/Pendant
14kt hallmarked on backside of pendant.
18 river pearls, wing shaped, cream colored, ~9.5mm each
blue sapphire center, 5.9mm
In good shape, no changes have been made to the pin or pendant. The only downside is that the pin sometimes sticks you when you wear it as a pendant.

 

[pattye]

This is as good as it gets, imo! Love the flower and the sapphire (my birthstone), and the hinged bail, beyond wonderful!

 

[LitGeek]

Wow! That brooch is absolutely lovely! I hope you wear it often? Just to be on the safe side, I would slip one of those plastic earring backs (like those you use with french hooks) after you put the pin through your garment but before you close it. This way if it comes unpinned you are less likely to lose the pin itself. And how wonderful that it can also be worn as a pendant!

 

[MSC]

I do wear that brooch as a pendant! What a great idea with the plastic earring back, I am definitely going to try that.
Okay one more for the evening...
American edwardian diamond and pearl pendant
Hallmarked 14kt on the bail, which may not be original.
Pendant length is 1.15 inches.
Diamond is 1mm.
3 river pearls, cream colored: 10mmx8mmx5mm, 10mmx7mmx4.5mm, 9mmx6mmx3.5mm

 

[GemGeek]

Be still my beating heart! I adore the last two pieces. You have a beautiful collection. I hope you enjoy them for many years to come!

 

[Amrita]

Be still my beating heart! I adore the last two pieces. You have a beautiful collection. I hope you enjoy them for many years to come!

I totally agree - LOVE the last 2 pieces..

 

[Bodecia]

Hi Andrea,
You do have some lovely pieces but my favourite is the pearl necklace with the huge pearls. Love the flower pearl with Sapphire brooch/pendant too. When wearing as a pendant you could also use the brooch attachment for safety and that might help it from pricking you. Love it.

On the one you said may be a River Tay pearl - I don't think so. Ages ago Cliclasp had bought something with pearls the same as Tay pearls and I happened to have a brooch and later a necklace with the same pearls but since then (experience) and seeing others I am fairly sure they are not. I even bought what looked liked one but which I believed later to be a piece of carved MOP. I think I still have it listed. After seeing other Scottish river pearls and what I believe are Tay plus photos of Tay I don't know what we now have with those strange little "pearls". Just not Tay.

If you ever decide to sell your gorgeous River Pearl necklace let me know, not that I could afford it. Swaps maybe

Dawn - Bodecia
http://www.ebay.com/sch/dawncee333/m.html
eBay Seller ID dawncee333 Natural pearl collector & seller. And all round pearl lover.

 

[hbyrne]

I would very much appreciate it if you would do a little diamond ct calculating

Hi MSC...it looks as tho' (using your millimetre measurements, and my very lo-tech technique), your AMAZING ring has about a carat of diamonds...between .98-1.15ct. Nice!

 

[hbyrne]

Oh, and...I just adore all the wingy river pearl pieces! As regards the origin of these, they're something I very rarely see here in England. I've worked in antique jewellery for the last fifteen years and only just recently bought one piece in for the shop.

 

[MSC]

Thanks, Helen! That is very good to know! How did you do the calculation, if you don't mind sharing? Does it work for other stones or just diamonds?

 

[MSC]

On the one you said may be a River Tay pearl - I don't think so. Ages ago Cliclasp had bought something with pearls the same as Tay pearls and I happened to have a brooch and later a necklace with the same pearls but since then (experience) and seeing others I am fairly sure they are not. I even bought what looked liked one but which I believed later to be a piece of carved MOP. I think I still have it listed. After seeing other Scottish river pearls and what I believe are Tay plus photos of Tay I don't know what we now have with those strange little "pearls". Just not Tay.

Oh, interesting! What quality about them makes you sure that those types of pearls are not Tay? I remember reading that thread and that it was made me think maybe it is a Tay pearl. But, you've seen Tay pearls in person - what about them is different? Is it a texture or color or shape? All the Tay pearls I've seen on the web are round and the ones in that thread and my ring look like blisters.

 

[Bodecia]

Hi Andrea, it is the shape and also the lustre. I just don't think that type of pearl is a River Tay. Tay pearls are special and I am afraid the ones I had in that strange shape and yours just aren't very special. No worries though you have plenty that are very special

I am enjoying seeing all your beautiful pieces. Special is right.

Dawn - Bodecia
http://www.ebay.com/sch/dawncee333/m.html
eBay Seller ID dawncee333 Natural pearl collector & seller. And all round pearl lover.

 

[MSC]

Good to know, I am going to try to find more photos of Tay pearls online. Maybe I can find some good close ups to study!

BTW, I just saw this on A. Brandt + Son: http://www.abrandtandson.com/collections/just-in/products/victorian-14kt-mississippi-river-pearl-diamond-flower-pin-pendant I did NOT pay anywhere near as much as this one is going for. No way!

 

[MSC]

Thank you to whoever left me the lovely comment and reputation points (what are reputation points???)!

 

[juliebeth]

i did! it made the little green thing show up under your name. other than that i am not sure. river tay pearls!

 

[MSC]

Thank you Julie! How do you give rep points?
Still looking for some river tay pearl closeups, but until then...
Arts and Crafts (pretty sure American) Pearl and Sapphire Pendant
Hallmarked 14kt on the back of the pendant (maybe stamped post-production), the chain is not original.
The pendant is close to 2 inches in length and is 15mm wide.
The top pearl is ~12mmx7mmx4mm and the bottom pearl is ~8mmx6mmx3.5mm
The sapphires are 2mm
This pendant happens to be my favorite because I love the combo of pearls with sapphires and I love the foliate design. Truly a piece of art! I've been trying to find out the maker for a while to no avail.