Value of inherited strand of pearls

[BoulderGal]

Hello Pricescope Family!

Let me preface my question by admitting that I know absolutely nothing about pearls.

This is more of a curious question than anything else. I have a strand of pearls from my mother in law. I wore it when I got married 31 years ago, and maybe one or two other times since. Mostly out of curiosity and possibly for insurance, I'd like to see what their value is. All the information I have is her original receipt from 1986, 24" long, and 7-7.5mm. They are white and uniformly round.

Thanks friends!

 

[Civnhasy]

I'm not sure where you're located, but based on your username you might reach out to @molinePDG who is a pearl expert/vendor near Boulder and could tell you all you wanted to know and more! But if you want to share some photos and any details the receipt might tell you (freshwater, akoya, original price?) this group will likely be able to provide some thoughts.

 

[seaurchin]

There's not enough info. to go on here. Please post photos if you want our assistance in identifying your pearls. The price paid would also help and any other info. you have, including any markings on the clasp. Back then, freshwater pearls weren't uniformly round. So, at the size you stated, that leaves either akoya (saltwater) pearls or imitation pearls.

 

[pearlsngems]

You can get an idea of what it might cost to replace your pearls by looking online to see what pearl necklaces similar to yours are retailing for today.

But if you really want to insure them, then you would need to take your pearls to an appraiser and pay for an appraisal. For what it's worth, unless they are very high end pearls (say, top quality Mikimoto) there is probably no need to insure them.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Hello Pricescope Family!

Let me preface my question by admitting that I know absolutely nothing about pearls.

This is more of a curious question than anything else. I have a strand of pearls from my mother in law. I wore it when I got married 31 years ago, and maybe one or two other times since. Mostly out of curiosity and possibly for insurance, I'd like to see what their value is. All the information I have is her original receipt from 1986, 24" long, and 7-7.5mm. They are white and uniformly round.

Thanks friends!

be nice to see a photo
bear in mind that pearls like to be worn and do not like being locked away in a dry safe or any dry enviroment
i hope you wear them a bit more

 

[BoulderGal]

Thanks @Civnhasy @seaurchin @pearlsngems and @Daisys and Diamonds

I'll attach some quick phone pics with everything I know. The clasp is yellow gold with 14K on one end. There don't appear to be any other makers marks that I can see. The receipt has Lds I think written on it. Not sure what that means.

@Civnhasy you're right about the location, and it is dry here. They've been kept in a soft cloth bag away from other stuff in my jewelry box.

My MIL passed away a few years ago, so my interest is really more sentimental, and possibly for insurance purposes, eventually for my daughter to inherit. MIL was more formal--me not so much.

I didn't realize it until I dug out the receipt--she bought these on my birthday, before I ever met my husband--kind of funny.

 

[pearlsngems]

Lds probably means Ladies.
They are akoyas. (Round freshwater pearls were not yet being produced in 1986.) And clearly they are not imitations..

The pearls overall are average-- I don't see anything to make me think they need to be insured.
• A number of the pearls have surface irregularities
• The luster is not great, at least not in that photo/that lighting.
• The clasp, though gold, is a generic fish hook type.
• The size, 7-7.5mm, while a nice wearable everyday size, is not in the range where the price of akoyas jumps significantly (namely, 8mm and up.)

Overall I'd say you have a nice, wearable necklace, but not a particularly valuable one. I truly would not worry about insuring them.

Just curious: do you think your daughter might enjoy wearing them now? It would be better for the pearls to be worn than stored. When nacre dries up, luster is lost and the pearls can become brittle and yellowed. They benefit from the moisture they get from skin.

Not everyone loves smallish white round pearls. My daughter is 29 and the only pearls I have been able to interest her in are baroque golden south sea pearls, and Tahitian keshi. She loves those, and they look wonderful against her skin. So I got her a necklace of baroque/circlé golden ssp and gave her my Tahitian keshi. I fully expect that when she inherits all my other pearls, she will sell them....

 

[molinePDG]

@pearlsngems is as always spot on

Only thing I might add is it looks like they could be in need of a restring before anybody would wear or do much else with them. It's cool that you still have the original receipt paperwork!