Natural Saltwater pearls...

[sandsailor08]

I have received these as a inheritance and currently have them at GIA under a jeweler for representation. Please let me know what you think..???

 

[Pearl Dreams]

They're pretty! I would have said they were cultured baroque akoya pearls. Please tell us about the imaging on the right, and post again when you have the GIA report!

 

[sandsailor08]

I have had them looked at as Salt water...the 3rd image is an x-ray....I see no nucleus or foreign object......and will do when the GIA report comes out.

 

[Caitlin]

What kind of xray is that? It looks very low resolution, like a chest xray.

How big are the pearls? Can you put up a cropped version with a few of them enlarged?

My guess is baroque akoya too. That clasp is not usual on natural pearls either. Usually spring ring or a fancy clasp. Such uniform shapes either augers a bead or an incredibly valuable natural- we just saw one a couple days ago that round and it was 50-95k estimated before the auction. It also had a fancy clasp because round naturals are rare, rare, rare.

But good luck. I would be very happy to be wrong!

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Yes, and to clarify: akoya pearls are saltwater pearls!

 

[sandsailor08]

It is a x-ray from a vet clinic...had to see if these were worth sending in first. They measure from 5.5mm x 6.2mm slightly baroque. I had sent these photos to Mikimoto in S.F. Ca. Due to the story of these coming from Yokohama Japan 1958, purchased at Mikimoto. Problem is the clasp does not have their stamp on it and any paper trail has been lost. Mikimoto reps were very excited and felt confident these (May) be the real mcoy.

Sorry at this time I do not have a clearer pic or cropped one. I have been told by many these appear to be cultured, however like many I hold onto the idea these may be natural..

 

[sandsailor08]

The x-ray is from a vet clinic, I was advised to do so before sending into GIA too see if they're worth sending in. I have been told by many these are cultured....however I'm gonna hold onto the idea that they're not ..waiting for GIA.

They measure from 5.5mm x 6.2mm. I'm not able to blow-up a better x-ray pic..sorry The clasp is silver. I am told these came from Japan 1958, possibly at Mikimoto. The clasp does not have their stamp on it. But Mikimoto tells me during that time frame it wasn't unusual for them to custom make for American's considering gold was illegal.

 

[pattye]

A lovely inheritance, how long will the necklace be when restrung? My thought is also baroque akoya. Looking forward to the GIA report.

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

These are cultured akoyas.

I'm not aware of any natural pearls from Mikimoto, no less from 1958 or with a silver clasp. Even with a veterenary or dental xray, you'd expect to see large and small dark spots, concentric rings and inclusions.

 

[sandsailor08]

Hmmm..I've had the opinion of these being slightly baroque...and it currently measures at 42". Here I was able to crop the x-ray....Thank you all so much for your valid opinions

 

[Caitlin]

Another thing about natural pearls is they usually have more tapering than your necklace, ie the pearls go from 6mm down to .5mm because getting so many the same size or rather just a slight taper is very difficult. Also on a natural, looking at it overall, even if well matched, there is variation in the shades of white.

When was using gold illegal? During WWII?, because that is when you saw a lot of sterling clasps on pearls, even Mikis. I have never seen a silver clasp on a natural necklace, unless I put it on. They were not selling naturals at all by WWI and mikimoto never sold naturals- naturals were their competition!

The silver clasp was practically proof it is not natural. The old naturals hav gold or platinum clasps often with pearls or diamonds on them. A young ladies' pearl necklace had a gold spring ring often rose gold. Sometimes the simplest clasps were in rice shaped tubes about 9mm long.

What happens in a lot of families is that granma tells mom it is a REAL pearl necklace- meaning it is not fake, but it is the new-fangled cultured pearls which are real pearls, just cultured instead of wild.

Then daughter remembers REAL pearls as being "natural pearls" as opposed to cultured pearls, instead of real pearls as opposed to fake pearls.

Finally, even if they are natural, they look like akoyas, so anyone who knew anything about pearls would never guess they are natural, just as we have not.

Bummer.

 

[Caitlin]

After looking at the close ups, you can clearly see the bead in the baroque end of several of the pearls.

I think it would cost too much to let the GIA test more than 3 pearls.

There were no natural pearls in Japan in 1958 at least, not for sale.

 

[sandsailor08]

I am not aware a bead could be on the end as you have suggested....interesting. Thank you again for your opinion.

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

I have encircled in green, all visible contrasts. These are only at the edge of bead, typical of cultured pearls. If these were natural, the contrasts would be more pronounced and throughout the entire view. Also, I have encircled in red, two pearls presenting with rings typical to nuclei created from washboard mussels.

 

[sandsailor08]

Wow..I had the impression those circled in red may have been drilled originally for earrings? very interesting..Question..and I'm not holding you or anyone else to this...if as they appear to be what you say..any idea on value? guess-timation..?

 

[Pearl Dreams]

I generally recommend to people to do their homework...check completed listings on eBay to see what similar items have sold for recently.

Here's one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ES-Gorgeous...=&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

[Caitlin]

I was going the circle the places I saw the bead

 

[pattye]

Since it's a vintage piece, the nacre is usually thicker and the piece more valuable than the ebay example shown.

 

[sandsailor08]

I am really curious after the above forum conversation on what if anyone may or may not have an idea of approx. value? regarding again the above messages. Thank You in advance.

 

[sandsailor08]

oh I see....hum..much too do.