Hello all. I am mostly looking to see what kind of pearls I am holding and if they are valuable enough to pay to have them officially appraised and kept in my safe instead of banging around in my wife's jewelry box.
So the details: Yes they are gritty when rubbed together. The stringing is knotted (very finely) between each pearl. There are 125 pearls in this double-strand necklace. Many are oddly shaped. On average they are all between 8.5 and 9mm when measured at the center, most round part. As I said, some are oblong and they go over 10mm. The clasp is a gold flower design measuring 1" in diameter with 7 cut diamonds in a pattern measuring about 7mm across. This sits on a basket that the very large and sturdy clasp tab inserts into it with an extra latch to make sure the tab doesn't back out. I have no documentation and I cannot see any visible stamps or markings on the clasp. These would have likely been purchased in New York City.
The history of this necklace is that my Godfather gave this to my Godmother back when they were married (I do not know the date, but it would likely have been in the late 30's to early 40's). I was told by my mother that this was a depression-era necklace. It was my mother's favorite necklace throughout her childhood and she fought to get it after my Godmother passed in 2006 in a lengthy estate settlement. My mother recently passed (in April) and the necklace went to my sister. While I was helping clear my mother's house last week, my sister said that she wanted my wife to have them since she will actually wear them.
So what do you think? What do I have on my hands here? Should I go ahead and insure them? Thanks!
So the details: Yes they are gritty when rubbed together. The stringing is knotted (very finely) between each pearl. There are 125 pearls in this double-strand necklace. Many are oddly shaped. On average they are all between 8.5 and 9mm when measured at the center, most round part. As I said, some are oblong and they go over 10mm. The clasp is a gold flower design measuring 1" in diameter with 7 cut diamonds in a pattern measuring about 7mm across. This sits on a basket that the very large and sturdy clasp tab inserts into it with an extra latch to make sure the tab doesn't back out. I have no documentation and I cannot see any visible stamps or markings on the clasp. These would have likely been purchased in New York City.
The history of this necklace is that my Godfather gave this to my Godmother back when they were married (I do not know the date, but it would likely have been in the late 30's to early 40's). I was told by my mother that this was a depression-era necklace. It was my mother's favorite necklace throughout her childhood and she fought to get it after my Godmother passed in 2006 in a lengthy estate settlement. My mother recently passed (in April) and the necklace went to my sister. While I was helping clear my mother's house last week, my sister said that she wanted my wife to have them since she will actually wear them.
So what do you think? What do I have on my hands here? Should I go ahead and insure them? Thanks!
