pearlsngems|1474816891|4080582 said:Getting them certified will be expensive; if you have a friendly dentist who will xray them for you, you should be able to see if there is a bead inside. If no bead is visible, then pay to have them certified as natural by GIA.
pearlsngems|1474829546|4080632 said:My guess is akoyas....
Also the lack of a bead is no proof that a pearl is natural; non-bead nucleated freshwaters are common.
Ruth150|1474836355|4080661 said:pearlsngems|1474829546|4080632 said:My guess is akoyas....
Also the lack of a bead is no proof that a pearl is natural; non-bead nucleated freshwaters are common.
I do not believe they are akoyas and most of the pearls are 9mm or a bit over. They are too old (1920's) to be classified as non-bead nucleated freshwaters. In addition, they exhibit some iridescent colors that appear to change when seen from different angles or under different light. I've attached two images. What do you think?
pearlsngems|1474844419|4080695 said:She thinks they are natural pearls.
I'm sticking with akoyas, which do get to that size. And cultured akoyas do go back to the 1920s.
ennui|1474848000|4080713 said:Well, if we rule out Akoya, natural and freshwater, that leaves ... glass. Have you done the 'tooth test'?
The silk is very clean for a necklace that old, if it is indeed from the 1920s. Also, pearls from that era would have a candlelight tone, not bright white.
Where did you get this necklace? Was it a gift, or an inheritance, or ... ? That may give some clues.
katbran|1474862922|4080765 said:They look like cultured pearls. If they were natural they should have a certificate and cost a fortune. You can try the X-ray and it may show the bead but it might not as Dentist X-ray machines are not meant for this sort of work . ( I just heard a lecture from the head of GIA's division that investigates natural and/or treated pearls) . I too have no idea as to how they could possibly verify that these pearls are from he 1920's ...just because someone was told this doesn't make it true. Over all this seems pretty suspect. But it all depends on what you paid and if you like them.
Read about Candling - that might show the bead.
Ruth150|1474845775|4080705 said:In addition while I was researching online I found the following information... "In the 1950's, 60's and 70's a typical size for cultured pearls was 4mm to 6mm. Graduated necklaces were popular - ranging from a central 7mm diameter pearl to 3mm pearls at the necklace ends. A necklace from this era with large pearls was either fake or vastly expensive."
*Art Nouveau era was between 1890-1914. It was also professionally cleaned and restringed.