Natural Pteria Sterna Strand

https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/113...a_ship_to=CA&ga_ref=auto1&ga_search_type=all&
ga_facet=crochet+pearl+tiny
https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/158...a_search_type=all&ga_facet=crochet+pearl+tiny
https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/158230503/claspless-freshwater-pearl-crocheted?ref=shop_home_active

I think these are the three shops I got them from...... kind of a moot point anyways - I can't crochet! Lol. They are pretty though, huh? So delicate and girly...... I still remember how to do macrame though! Thank you 1970's for such a useful skill.......
 
mausketeer said:
No, they didn't come with a certificate...... Hmm, not sure what your other question means.......like, did they say where they got them from you mean? (IE: collected over years by a lovely old fisherman versus purchased as a large parcel from one source type of thing?). No, no provenance. Just the pearls.......
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To determine identification and authenticity of natural pearls is a task which requires multiple points of complete data. It's very difficult from photos alone. P. sterna pearls rank among my personal favorites and I'm inclined to agree with their appearance as you have presented them. That said, their origin and value have been withheld. For what reason I am not sure, but when I encounter cagey descriptions it raises concerns.

You've indicated you are a motivated purchaser of natural pearls. That's terrific, but it also opens one's self to misrepresentation, because there are plenty of people willing to sell you something else. I am not suggesting this is the case, but given the current description, I'm unable to rule it out.

I am aware of several pools of incidental micro-pearls from aquaculture. Though many may indeed be spontaneous or natural, they were reared in a cultural setting and thus precluded from being certifiable as natural.

Unless you harvest them yourself, or source them from known entities, natural pearling is a perilous adventure.
 
Well said. Douglas is very careful to separate the naturals from the keshi. They find the naturals when they check the oysters before nucleating. Unscrupulous sellers have tried passing off keshi as naturals for years and years and years.
 
Lagoon Island Pearls said:
To determine identification and authenticity of natural pearls is a task which requires multiple points of complete data. It's very difficult from photos alone. P. sterna pearls rank among my personal favorites and I'm inclined to agree with their appearance as you have presented them. That said, their origin and value have been withheld. For what reason I am not sure, but when I encounter cagey descriptions it raises concerns.

You've indicated you are a motivated purchaser of natural pearls. That's terrific, but it also opens one's self to misrepresentation, because there are plenty of people willing to sell you something else. I am not suggesting this is the case, but given the current description, I'm unable to rule it out.

I am aware of several pools of incidental micro-pearls from aquaculture. Though many may indeed be spontaneous or natural, they were reared in a cultural setting and thus precluded from being certifiable as natural.

Unless you harvest them yourself, or source them from known entities, natural pearling is a perilous adventure.
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Well I was really only reluctant to say where I got them because I've never seem them mentioned on here when everyone talks about where to buy natural pearls, so it made me....... I dunno, wary of why that may be. But then on a private message I was reassured by an expert on here that yes, they ARE indeed reputable, so I needn't worry. I bought them from the "The Pearl Collector". They had a few strands, this was the smallest. I paid $550 for them. I asked which species they were, and when he said they WERE p sterna, I thought maybe they were keshi's, but he said no, they were actual naturals.
 
They look natural and the coloration is spot-on. Because they are so small, I think it's a great idea to spread them out by some creative stringing or wire work. Or learn to crochet! :)
 
Alexander Marcelo has an outstanding collection. The value of the piece is more than fair as it will retain it's value and will always be highly collectable.

I would have invoked his name in an instant.
 
Lagoon Island Pearls said:
Alexander Marcelo has an outstanding collection. The value of the piece is more than fair as it will retain it's value and will always be highly collectable.

I would have invoked his name in an instant.
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Oh wonderful! That makes me happy! I had been eyeing them for so long, they just have "the look" of what I personally love so much about pearls. I am currently torn between "simple straight strand" or long (say, 42 inch) SOMETHING with coloured string or whatnot. I wear my loooong Tahitians often, but must change the chain as it's very heavy. That length is so versatile though......
 
Personnally I would stick to a simple strand. When pearls are close together, especially colored pearls, I think they set each other off better.
And you never get tired of a classical, simple design.
The play of light on pearly nacre, set on the skin around the neck, is quite enough to make it gorgeous. In this case, I think less is more.
But of course this is a very personal view.
 
You can always layer with another, longer strand...

- Karin
 
Well thanks to everyone for their input once again! You always amaze me with not only your extensive knowledge, but your passion about pearls. Here are neck shots and seeing them like this I must agree - simple is better for these puppies. This will be my "never take it off necklace", although I will probably have to stop wearing my gold charm chain, don't want to damage them rubbing on the gold. Do you agree? Do you think it would be okay to string them like seed pearls? (with no knots until near the ends, so only like, four knots or so per side).
 

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Gorgeous on you! Yes, I would do exactly as you suggest with the knotting. :)
 
This necklace is TDF!!! I absolutely love all the tiny pearls. I have several tiny pearl necklaces I wear all the time. Not sure what mine are but I adore them. You are so brave and have a much steadier hand than me. I am afraid to restring the one I've had for about 15 years or so. Those colors are my favorite! Love them ;) I have two with similar colors, one with knots and one without and I like the one without knots much better. It just looks more fluid to me. That length is perfect for you. Congratulations on owning such a beautiful piece! ~d
 
Great to see them in true size. Thank you for the neckshot :) I agree they would look kinda weird with knots between each. Ut they will look great layered with Tahitians :)

- Karin
 
Thanks so much everyone! (shots are edited so double chin doesn't show, lol). Yes, these are going to be my new "babies"! I tried a doubled up piece of the 5lb power pro today (just in my hands), yes, it does snap very easily. Good thing my cousin is a fisherman! (Amazon sent me two rolls, not sure why.....). So I think I may buy some of that Pearlers Secret from Pattye on Etsy, see if that is thin enough. If not, I'll get higher test Power Pro.......
 
madsciencechik said:
If it were me, I would get some delicate gold chain and some gold wire and make a triple tiered necklace out of them.
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Just when I have decided what I want to do! Lol. Love your shop Andrea! That Georgian ring is amazing! (but I'm really eyeing that anatomical heart!)

Well, tragically, the bead store that is literally in the next block from my apartment burned down a few weeks ago (huge fire, destroyed almost the entire block of 100 year old heritage buildings. So sad.). That's where I would get any findings I needed, so now, it will be the internet for everything (hard for me to get around much now, I don't even know where to get findings in Vancouver really.).
 
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