Natural or Man-made? Please help!

[PSA10431]

Hi everyone,

Thank you for this opportunity to post on your forums. I have a necklace in which I am unsure of if it's natural or cultured. Can any one of the experts on this forum help identify it? I want to send it to a lab but I need to know if it's worth it to do all of that. Please see the images and thanks in advance for any reply!

 

[pattye]

Hi and welcome!

Your pearls are quite "round," so it is most likely they are cultured pearls, not natural pearls. What is the story of this necklace and how did you come by it?

Here are some guidelines one of our members, Pearl Dreams, compiled to gather additional information we need to help us identify your pearls.

"
1. Do the pearls feel slightly gritty or smooth when rubbed gently against your tooth or against another pearl?
If they are gritty, they are likely to be real nacre (genuine pearls.) If they feel smooth, they are likely imitation pearls.

2. Please provide clear, in-focus photos without flash against a white background (a paper towel works nicely.)
Include close-ups of the clasp (front and back) and a few of the pearls. If there are flaws, include a photo of those. Also the box they came in, and tags if you have them.

3. Any history you can give us about the pearls. Where/when you or your relative got them, any documentation you have (receipts, appraisals), their price range if you know it, etc.

4. Describe any marks on the clasp. These may be numbers (14K, 585, 750, 925 etc.) or brand names or even pictures.

5. Measure the pearls, with a millimeter ruler if possible. If they are graduated, measure the largest and smallest pearls.


Please understand that any opinions we offer are not an official appraisal. If you think you may have valuable pearls, please see a jeweler. "

 

[BWeaves]

I'm a little unclear as to what you are asking. Are you asking if they are natural pearls or cultured pearls or imitation pearls?

 

[PSA10431]

Hi and welcome!

1. Do the pearls feel slightly gritty or smooth when rubbed gently against your tooth or against another pearl?
If they are gritty, they are likely to be real nacre (genuine pearls.) If they feel smooth, they are likely imitation pearls.

2. Please provide clear, in-focus photos without flash against a white background (a paper towel works nicely.)
Include close-ups of the clasp (front and back) and a few of the pearls. If there are flaws, include a photo of those. Also the box they came in, and tags if you have them.

3. Any history you can give us about the pearls. Where/when you or your relative got them, any documentation you have (receipts, appraisals), their price range if you know it, etc.

4. Describe any marks on the clasp. These may be numbers (14K, 585, 750, 925 etc.) or brand names or even pictures.

5. Measure the pearls, with a millimeter ruler if possible. If they are graduated, measure the largest and smallest pearls.

Please understand that any opinions we offer are not an official appraisal. If you think you may have valuable pearls, please see a jeweler. "

Thank you so much for the responses! They are not smooth. I will post in-focus images without flash over a white surface. The image below shows the hook's marks, close-up of the pearls and they are not as round under close examination. It has history of Great Britain (England). The clasp is (fish) hand made with a sponsor mark and gold hallmark of 375, etc. The pearls are between 7 to 8mm. I'll keep it in my collection since it?s still an antique item. Thanks!

 

[BWeaves]

375 would be 9K gold, which would be English, so that fits.

How antique is it? England and America have different ideas of how old "antique" is.

 

[PSA10431]

375 would be 9K gold, which would be English, so that fits.

How antique is it? England and America have different ideas of how old "antique" is.

It's Birmingham 1892 (S). It's more than 100 years old. I did some research and learned that the necklace is from before the cultured period. I don't believe it's that valuable and the beads are not large enough. Anyway, I enjoy this forum and thank you so much for taking your time to answer. Happy Holidays!

 

[BWeaves]

7 to 8 mm pearls would be quite large for natural pearls, and therefore expensive if they are not cultured. Despite the surface imperfections in your photos, they look very well matched.

You may want to have them lab tested and valued.

P.S. I grew up in Birmingham. They were a thriving jewelry making city back in the day.

 

[Happy Huku]

Was just wondering what the top side of your clasp looks like? I'm always interested!
I'm no expert but I do know that old clasps were often re-used with newer pearls (I've just re-cycled an old clasp myself), this might be the case with your pearls/clasp?

 

[Caitlin]

If the pearls are from the same date as the clasp, they would have to be natural. However a natural necklace with all the pearls about the same size and shape as this would be so expensive, it should have a far better clasp.

What the pearls look like is Chinese freshwater pearls. The slightly eggy shapes are peculiar to cultured Chinese freshwater pearls of the 21st century.

I personally have loved the look precisely because it looks so natural compared to imitation pearls and to the perfect roundness of akoyas. The luster in the photos is lovely. So,it looks like the clasp is meant to make it a special necklace, a necklace that would be very natural looking to most people.

 

[GemGeek]

Caitlin makes a good observation about the pearls. Also, a uniform-sized strand of natural pearls would definitely rate a better clasp in relation to the pearls. I hope you will enjoy and wear your necklace in good health.

 

[aradhnasingh]

If you've ever merely pondered or really needed to know the difference between a man-made string of seemingly flawless yet clearly faux pearls and the set of valuable cultured or natural pearls you have on hand, the distinctions are clear.