What are these?

[Rosomane]

These are said to be natural pearls bought at Macy's NYC estate jewelry dept. in the 1980's for approx. $800 - without the clasp which was added later. I don't see much orient - is that just bad photography or...?

I will thank Zeide or anyone else who cares to comment in advance.

 

[KAC]

I tried looking at those file but all i get is jibberish, you need to post an image not a word document.

 

[Zeide Erskine]

Hi Rosomane,

You're good! I actually have another pearl aficionado investigating them. I've been watching the strand for awhile but after Jeremy's trigger-happy Buy-It-Now on the 5-strand, I decided to keep this one secret until after it closes.

The story may actually be true. Macy's in NY has an antique and estate jewelry department and these do look like they could be natural Mississippian. I need a clear shot on a white background to see whether the pearls are any good. The clasp I have to see in person.

Zeide

 

[jshepherd]

Not a bad deal for nearly any quality natural at a hundred bucks!

 

[Zeide Erskine]

Hi Jeremy,

Will you please keep your greedy fingers off of this one?

Kidding aside, they do look like "pearlers' pearls" and strands like that were treasured American heirlooms for families that participated in the pearl rush of the 1880s and 1890s. They would be valuable as jewels if they have water, mirror, and orient and besides that are highly collectible Americana even if the pearls were absolute rubble. They probably originally had a "homespun" clasp and if one could get the original clasp to go with them, the strand will be a valuable museum piece just for its historical significance.

Zeide

 

[jshepherd]

Hmmmm, you may be talking me into it... We may have that bidding up to 2-3k by tomorrow!

No, seriously, I would like to see someone walk away with it for the opening $99. It has not received a lot of interest (off this board). How about we announce the ID # an hour before closing

 

[Valeria101]

You may want to take the attachments out - it takes one Google search to find them

(Not intending to go after them; enough is enough...)

 

[Zeide Erskine]

Hi Ana,

Don't worry, here is another eBay find. It is indeed a 7mm cultured half pearl, so why this high price and the unmarked platinum setting? The pearl looks like one of the very early Mikimotos displaying the typical green overtone that is characteristic of the pearls of Mie prefecture (before bleaching and dying). The ring is not marked because there was no hallmark standard for platinum at that time.

http://cgi.ebay.com/FABULOUS-Deco-D...6QQihZ002QQcategoryZ52567QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Zeide

 

[Valeria101]

Hi Ana,

Don't worry, here is another eBay find.

Zeide

Aha! I must be making some progress... that's the one bit that stood out for me too when browsing yesterday. The quote could well be for the setting alone, if I am not seeing things (which is hard to tell, with those out of focus picture's - why make them so big when they're blurry all the same?). Not that it would absolutely deserve it, but anything that didn't get out of a Thai casting company is rather OTT these days. Thank goodness I am somewhere mid-way to there (both for geography, and jewelry manufacturing costs).

This might as well be dry season on serious pearls for me... everything I definitely care for is a wee-bit beyond what I care to pay. But then, what else is new? (For example, THIS - not sure if the pearl is truly of consequence, but there are so few such pins around!)

 

[pattye]

HUUMMMM-Do you think Grace is one of our forum members?
Pattye

 

[Rosomane]

Sorry all, I'm useless for posting pics. Never did it before and still have not! Zeide, I asked her for close-ups taken outside in indirect light and she sent them to me. They do not have the luster of the Bahraini pearls for sure. They're ok, that's about it. The clasp overwhelms the delicacy of the necklace IMO but it is interesting too. Thanks for your comments. I've learned all I know from this forum honestly, I don't find books nearly as informative although I am reading too. I guess I should keep my mouth shut on these sorts of sales so us po' folk have some semblance of a chance without bidding against the Big Guy(s), heh, heh. I haven't cast off my training wheels yet though and needed a second opinion. Best of luck to whoever wants the necklace. I think it would make a nice addition to a collection if it is Mississippi pearls.

 

[jshepherd]

Is anyone here on this forum planning on taking it? I am not really interested in the piece, but it is a shame at that price if someone does not really know what they are buying.

Anybody...? Let me know and I promise to leave it alone

 

[pattye]

I'll give it a try---
Pattye

 

[Rosomane]

I made an absentee bid as I had a business meeting (tasting food for the company holiday party) and apparently I was outbid (no surprise there considering who was bidding against me). Just ribbing you Jeremy. I'm glad it went to one who appreciates it. I hope you will bring it out when I come to visit.

 

[jshepherd]

Ah Rosomane! You must not have checked your email yet Sorry about that Pattye! No one had bid until there was less than a minute left. I just put in a max and saw it just to over $400 in the last few seconds.

 

[mikehrz]

Begging everyone's pardon, but what auction did Jeremy win? I can't find a link to any necklace in this thread... unless I'm just missing it somehow.

 

[jshepherd]

Sure!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...MEWN:IT&viewitem=&item=160045578649&rd=1&rd=1

As you can see by the bidding, this all happened in the last minute of the auction:

pearlparadi**** US $474.99 Nov-03-06 16:54:16 PST
patt**** US $469.99 Nov-03-06 16:54:24 PST
le-vic**** US $220.00 Nov-03-06 16:53:35 PST
gracejlockw US $110.00 Nov-03-06 0833 PST
uggyfeet US $110.00 Nov-03-06 1238 PST
uggyfeet US $103.59 Nov-03-06 1216 PST

I believe Pattye and I placed bids at nearly the exact same time.

The strand is probably not that pretty, but you never know, pearls are hard to photograph. For a natural MS strand, however, it really is a steal.

Still have not received the 5-strander, and have had no real communication from the seller even though the auction was paid for within minutes of close. Not sure what to think on that one...

 

[Zeide Erskine]

Hi Mike,

This is the one we were talking about: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...MEWA:IT&viewitem=&item=160045578649&rd=1&rd=1 Jeremy won it. The strand looks like a Mississippian collection made by pearlers in the 1880s-1890s during the American pearl rush. The pictures are not good enough to judge quality and it may as well be from New Jersey or Wisconsn but that is about the time frame. The strand does not have its original clasp in its current state but it may still be available from the seller. For collectors of Americana, this is probably worth about US 24,000.00 at a gallery or other retail level. So, I guess, this counts as a rather good deal. Geez, I should start charging for financial advice.

By the way, I just found a negative example and I want everbody to be aware of it: http://cgi.ebay.com/ANTIQUE-5-STRAN...4QQihZ005QQcategoryZ52581QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem The so-called platinum clasp is tarnished and the pearls are far too uniform and round to be vintage. This is a rip off.

Zeide

 

[Valeria101]

Still have not received the 5-strander, [...] Not sure what to think on that one...

Perhaps the seller found the discussion here about their pearls and now is wondering whether they sold them for peas... If they are really convinced the thing ranks with this lot, no big wonder.