My natural pearl necklace and earrings- estimates?

[ballerina_tutu]

Hi everyone
I have an antique natural pearl necklace and earrings that my great aunt gave me and I'd like to learn some more about them. Here's what I know already: The letter from my great aunt says that they are Continental seed pearl. They were originally a gift my great great grandfather gave his niece. (which means they were probably purchased somewhere between 1900-1934). The box says they are from Carteaux Jewelers (Chicago, IL). The box itself says "Box Made in Italy" in gold writing on the bottom (I don't know if that has anything to do with the pearls or not). The earrings are 14k gold.

If anybody has any insight to offer, I'd really appreciate it. I'd really like to know the value of these if I were to sell them. Thanks so much!

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Lovely, but I am puzzled! Every photo of vintage seed pearls that I see on Google images shows really small pearls. Could yours be natural freshwater river pearls?

Also, all the gold I inherited from my Italian relatives is 18K and is marked 750...again, 15K doesn't sound right for Italian gold.

Could the box have belonged to another strand?

I found this completed auction for a seed pearl brooch but it's probably not very helpful:

http://www.fellows.co.uk/1159-lot-2...&pagesortby=&paperfilter=&vhigh=130000&vlow=0

 

[MSC]

15kt gold is more typical of english jewelry from the 1800s. could the pearls be natural freshwaters from the UK region perhaps? i agree with pearldreams, they do look like natural freshwater pearls.

 

[Casey.R]

Those have a really interesting look to them. Can't wait to hear what kind of pearls they turn out to be.

 

[pearlescence]

If any of the gold is marked k or kt that means it isn't UK - we use the abbreviation ct and anything over a small weight must be hallmarked.
Why not believe the box- made it in Italy ..then exported to chicago?

 

[ballerina_tutu]

Hi everyone, thanks so much for your help so far! I've attached more images that show the size/scale better (though the lighting is not so good). As for the earrings, I made a mistake- they are 14k, not 15k.
Pearl Dreams and madsciencechik: I agree that they could be freshwater pearls. The ones around the clasp though are really tiny like seed pearls though.
CaseyR: me too!
perlescence- yes, the gold is marked k, so it isn't UK. It very well could be made in Italy.
Again, thank you very much for your help so far. Much appreciated! Hopefully the new pictures and correction will be of some help.

 

[Sea Urchin]

This is probably a long shot, but I found a Chicago jewelry company by that name from a google search. Maybe worth a call to see if they know anything about it?

Carteaux Inc
31 N Wabash Ave
Chicago, Illinois 60602-4718
(312) 782-5375


Here's one about "expired domain names" where a company named "Carteaux" was called "Chicago's premier jeweler since 1923."

http://www.olddomains.net/com/carteaux/

 

[Caitlin]

Calling them is a great idea and Chicago was the perfect place to sell natural freshwaters, which mostly came from the drainage system of the Mississippi River basin. Iowa was the center of the shell fishing for MoP buttons and a lot of pearls turned up in the area.

This is only the second necklace of them I have ever seen. The other one was on sale in Texas for10k about 7 years ago. As rough as yours is, it is still probably worth more than that. It will look so wonderful, when worn- it is so obviously natural. You are one lucky collector. That must be your piece de resistance!

If you were to sell them, I'd do it through a big auction house like Bonhams or Christies. This is what could be called an Important Piece!

 

[ballerina_tutu]

This is probably a long shot, but I found a Chicago jewelry company by that name from a google search. Maybe worth a call to see if they know anything about it?

Carteaux Inc
31 N Wabash Ave
Chicago, Illinois 60602-4718
(312) 782-5375
Headings associated with this record:•JEWELERS WHOLESALE


Here's one about "expired domain names" where a company named "Carteaux" was called "Chicago's premier jeweler since 1923."

http://www.olddomains.net/com/carteaux/

Thanks so much for looking that information up. Yes, that seems to be the jewelry company- but the phone number's been disconnected. In further searching online, it seems they may be still in business in Chicago but don't have a listed phone number? Again, thanks so much for the help. Much appreciated.

 

[ballerina_tutu]

Calling them is a great idea and Chicago was the perfect place to sell natural freshwaters, which mostly came from the drainage system of the Mississippi River basin. Iowa was the center of the shell fishing for MoP buttons and a lot of pearls turned up in the area.

This is only the second necklace of them I have ever seen. The other one was on sale in Texas for10k about 7 years ago. As rough as yours is, it is still probably worth more than that. It will look so wonderful, when worn- it is so obviously natural. You are one lucky collector. That must be your piece de resistance!

If you were to sell them, I'd do it through a big auction house like Bonhams or Christies. This is what could be called an Important Piece!

Thanks so much Caitlin! That helps a lot!

 

[Sea Urchin]

...This is only the second necklace of them I have ever seen. The other one was on sale in Texas for10k about 7 years ago. As rough as yours is, it is still probably worth more than that. It will look so wonderful, when worn- it is so obviously natural. You are one lucky collector. That must be your piece de resistance!
If you were to sell them, I'd do it through a big auction house like Bonhams or Christies. This is what could be called an Important Piece!

Woo hoo for ballerina tutu!

 

[Caitlin]

When I said that, I didn't see the penny. I have failing eyes which see things in a gentle blur without correction. The other 10k strand was 20'', bigger pearls, all over 6-7mm, but still this is a rare piece! I would buy it if I could- as I can't have too many Natural Mississippi (basin) river pearls. And the the pearl enhancer adds value -or is good on its own. I am quietly envious of the owner of these.

Please string them on a strong thread like power pro and wear them the rest of your life! You can extend them by adding some Oregon sunstone or aquamarine or other light colored gemstones to subtly pick up on the color range in the strand. This is a beaut. Please try not to sell it, because you probably won't get 10k (Sorry)and you will never be able to replace it! Oh I wish I had the money to finagle it out of you!

 

[pattye]

Ballerina_tutu,

What a treasure, thank you for sharing the story and photos here.