What kind of pearls are these and the history.

[HelenM]

Hi there,
I am new to this forum and was wondering what kind of pearls these are?I have had them a while and it was handed down to me.What is the history of pearls this type.Any ideas as to the value at first blush? Where should I take them to get a better idea?This necklace was hard to photograph and does have 8 strands.I was also told the clasp and the gold in between the pearls is real.Have not seen one similar so am very curious.
Thanks for any information you can provide.

 

[Caitlin]

Those look very special!!! I want to see a closer close op of a section of pearls or close ups of several sections. Make the pearls as big as possible. This looks like a good one!

 

[HelenM]

Hi Caitlin,
Thank you for responding and I will try to get some good pictures tomorrow.Every time I tried to get a close up the pearls disappeared and went way out of focus.I will see what I can do to get decent photos of different sections.Appreciate your help.
Helen

 

[Amrita]

What a beautiful clasp! Set your camera to macro (flower sign) settings and then take close-ups of the pearls.
This does look special..

 

[lisa c]

Hi! We have a thread that gives suggestions for photographing pearls. Look to the top left of this page, find the FORUM button. Click.
When that opens look to the bottom of the page for Other Stuff. Click.
Among the first few topics is a thread called Taking pictures of pearl jewelry.

Good luck!

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

I have had them a while and it was handed down to me.What is the history of pearls this type.

How long have you had them? Better yet, do you know when and where your (grand)parents acquired them? Whatever that era that was, could help us eliminate some possibilities and discuss probabilities.

I agree with other posters, this piece warrants closer attention.

 

[HelenM]

Here are some other pictures I took that might help

Here are some other pictures I took that might help

I think these pearls were handed down from my Grandmother who was born in 1896 in Eastern Europe.My mother had them for at least for 25 years.

Here are some hopefully better photographs to help with identifying them.

 

[HelenM]

Thank you Lisa

 

[HelenM]

Thank you Dave for replying.

 

[HelenM]

Thank you for replying.

 

[pattye]

HelenM,

Lovely pearls, like others here, I am hoping to learn more. Are there any markings on the clasp? 750? 585? Anything else? Approximately what size are the pearls? Did your grandparents travel? Do you have any family photos of your Grandmother wearing the pearls, and approximately what year? Thank you for sharing your treasure with us.

 

[lisa c]

Hi Helen, you're welcome, my pleasure!

Would you please show how the clasp works? Does it screw together? I cant tell if I'm seeing a little lever, or bent leaves in some of the pictures. Would you show the fittings, please? Thanks

Hang in there, if you've had time to do any reading you might've picked up from posters that photographing pearls and jewelry is no walk in the park! You're doing well, almost there.

With the stationed gold beads it's reminding me of what was a popular style in the '80s, but you know the popular saying Everything Old is New Again? I'm not a jewelry style expert, so let's see what they have to say.

Sarah, you've been handling lots of little special pearls lately, can we rule out Biwa? I'm inclining toward CFW, but...

and you PG experts have handled millions of pearls, I haven't.

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

You are getting better at the images. A couple of them give us a better look.

I'd encourage you to keep trying... macro flower, full zoom and crop. Balanced daylight.

Pattye and lisa asked some very important questions and I'll add one. At the risk of being too personal, was your grandmother "well-to-do"?

The reason I ask, if this is a piece crafted with natural pearls, it would have been quite expensive, even when new.

The skeptic in me says freshwater potato pearls, redesigned with an elaborate clasp, but the optimist suggests these pearls present as natural. Value-wise, those two appraisals are worlds apart. So you can see the tremendous importance to get your provenance solidified.

 

[lisa c]

Aha Dave! simultaneous editing (me) and posting (you)!

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

Aha Dave simultaneous editing (me) and posting (you)!

We're on the same page though. (no pun intended )

Given the purported age of the piece, Biwa fits. If so, some value add there.

 

[HelenM]

Hi Pattye and thanks so much for taking time to educate me.
One thing I know is I am a terrible picture taker so I will ask my friend to come in and redo photos.Here is some of the information that I was able to gather.
The necklace has 8 strands and is 45mm (18inches) long
Each pearl appears to be roughly 2.5 mm wide and are not perfectly round.There are approx 138 pearls and 4 gold balls on each strand.
On the clasp there are 16 tiny diamonds and the clasp has a hook to click on as well to protect the clasp from coming apart.The clasp has 14K585 imprinted on it.I have no pictures of anyone wearing it and have no idea as to when my Grandmother acquired it.I did the teeth rub test and definitely gritty compared to others I have that are smooth.I will post some more pictures and hopefully tomorrow my friend will help me out with more.
Oh I have so much to learn.
Helen

 

[HelenM]

My Grandma's family was well to do before Communism.After that they led a very simplified life.I have other pcs of jewellery that are quite unique and genuine but this I don't know.There is no one on my Mother's side to ask.The only other thing I can think of is my aunt was well to do in New York and possibly could have gifted this necklace to my Grandmother.My mom inherited this in the mid 80's early 90's.Sorry I wish I could tell you more.The colour is creamy not bright white.This is one of those, when is a pearl, a pearl and what kind mysteries.Thanks so much for everyone's help and questions.
I really came to the right place and am so fortunate that there are so many knowledgeable people to guide me.
Helen

 

[HelenM]

Lisa thank you.Well I took more pictures and not happy with them.I could not take a good picture of a single pearl.Blurred, out of focus.Inside outside didn't matter.And looking for the flower on my camera well I could have planted them faster with better success.Still can't find the flower.I took 50 different shots and got maybe 10 decent ones.You can see they are pearls right?Just kidding.Spent hours on this so I am calling on my friend to come see what she can do with her camera.
Appreciate the advice and I know when I am over my head.:}

 

[HelenM]

I hope I answered all your questions at least what I do know which I am afraid is not much.Hopefully with everyone's help we can narrow it down.
Thank you again.
Helen

 

[HelenM]

Hi Dave,
I have answered what I can answer but I would love to know either way what this necklace is.I had no idea before coming here there are all these different types,shapes,sizes,colours and more.I am in in awe right now and on pearl overload.I have always loved the look of pearls so this is an exciting journey.
Appreciate all your help.