To those in the know

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AMACHADO

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The pictured necklace is 71cm in lenth with 68 pearls mostly between 9.02mm to 9.47mm apparently some variation in shape, color and surface. Clasp is almost certainly platinum one diamond, four saphires and pave diamonds. Inscription on broach "3129" and "C" on reverse. Purchased by my grand-father, a Venezuelan/German, first quarter 20th century. Necklace restrung 30 years ago and stored since.

Mens tie pin with 12.3mm almost perfectly round white/silver pearl on 18K gold pin. Suspect about same age as above.

Curious weather I should invest in gemological certification to determine nature of the pearls. Thank you.
 
If you look at the pearls near the clasp, you can see that the nacre may be wearing off of the beads, meaning they are probably cultured pearls. Try cleaning the pearls by wetting your hands and running the strand through your wet hands, especially near the clasp. Gently wipe dry with a soft cloth. Then get a better close up shot of just the clasp and the first five pearls on either side.

The pearl on the pin is very round, so it is most likely cultured, as well. It might be a South Sea pearl. :)
 
To those in the know

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Thank you for your help. Above an image of the 5 on each side of the clasp and of the opposite side. I do note that the pearl most adjacent to the clasp on the right hand is darker, however, the nacre does not appear any different from the others. I understand that based on age alone, 80 to 100 years, the infinitesimal probability of them being natural is greater. I suspect these may be Margarita pearls from Venezuela, still available in the first quarter of the last century, I also think the original owner, a gem connoiseur, would not knowingly invest in cultured pears.

Any suggestions as what else to look for other than going to the expense of testing at the GIA or such?

Also, is there a possibility the 12mm pearl on the pen could be natural? it is also antique, of the same provenance.

Thank you for your assistance.
 
AMACHADO said:
Also, is there a possibility the 12mm pearl on the pen could be natural? it is also antique, of the same provenance.
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The size, shape and color suggests Pinctada maxima on the pin. The white pearls are Pinctada fucata. P. margaritifera rarely (if ever) present as white, no less over entire strands.

Points supporting aquaculture surpass natural origin by > 9:1.
 
If you would indulge me, please try to get a sharper photo of the pearls back on the white background. The camera appears to be focusing on the background more than the pearls, but I don't see any bead. You are certainly free to invest in a geological report, but it is a gamble. :) The photo of the stick pin pearl was excellent, by the way.
 
It may surprise you to learn that the cultured pearl industry has been around for over a century. The odds of vintage pearls being natural are not as high as you think.
 
Further Photos

Further Photos

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These are close-ups on either side of broach, and another with a more random selection. Again, thank you.
 
The strand pearls look like cultured akoyas. They are very round due to the bead inside. They are on the larger end of the size akoyas come in.
I'm also guessing a cultured SSP for the tie pin.

If you plan to insure the strand I think I would have an appraisal based on the value of the clasp/brooch, but I don't think you need to have the pearls analysed.
If you plan to sell it, of course you would want to be sure of what you were selling (again, I refer to the clasp.)
 
Thank you for the extra photos. Here is my opinion: the necklace and the clasp are modern. The diamonds are full cut and if the metal were platinum, the prongs and the scroll work would likely be thinner. The pearls are too large and too uniform to be antique, much less natural and they don't have the depth of nacre of natural pearls or fine cultured pearls. Matched uniform cultured pearl necklaces of that size were not common until long after WWII. Perhaps it was a gift.

The pearl on the stick pin could easily have been replaced with the beautiful big pearl that is on it today, but you could investigate whether it is natural. If you want to sell it, you might get an auction house to test it for you with the cost deducted from the sale.

I'm sure others will have opinions that differ from mine, so stay tuned. :)
 
You might have your dentist X-ray the stick pin for you so you could see whether it is nucleated...
 
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