posted on May 19, 2001 04:08:36 PM new
Hi everyone - Is there any definitive way to look at a string of pearls and tell whether they're any good? I got some at an estate sale. They pass the 'tooth' test. Clasp is marked 14kt (and the clasp is a bit fancier than the ones you often see on cheap pearls). They are very close to round (but not perfect) and many of them have tiny imperfections. All of this would lead me to think they may be 'real' pearls (as opposed to fake). But I don't know how to determine their quality. Any suggestions???
posted on May 19, 2001 05:34:10 PM new
Uniformity of size and shape is important, color is important, and nacre (the sheen) is important.
Quality of pearls can also change with user abuse. Perfumes and other cosmetics can ruin the nacre on a string of pearls. Keeping pearls in a safe is a complete nono. They will disintegrate without oxygen.
posted on May 19, 2001 10:41:15 PM new
If you think they might be real pearls definitly take them to a jeweler. If they think they might be real then have them appraised. Last fall I bought some costume jewelry with a set of pearls that didn't look costume to me. For the whole lot of jewelry I paid $48. I paid $35 to have my pearls appraised and it turns out they were worth $350!! It was definitly worth the money to have them appraised! Needless to say I didn't sell them, but the rest of the jewelry brought in a nice profit on it's own. Good luck!
posted on May 20, 2001 05:24:04 AM new
Hi Barbarake -- I am a jewelry appraiser by trade. What everyone has told you is correct. The big $$ difference in cultured pearls are the following:
1) Size (does matter) Anything over 8 mm can be big money.
2) Degree of roundness. Most cultured pearls are described (in a strand) as "Mostly round" The least expensive are considered "Baroque" which will have an irregular "freeform" shape.
3) Nacre thickness. This is determind by the amount of time the pearl spent in the oyster. Anything harvested earlier than approx. 1 year will have thin nacre. Thin nacre wears off eventually and all you have left is the nucleus.
4) Color. Pearls will yellow with age. Also agents such as perfume, lotion, make-up, etc. can cause irreversable damage. Never use a commercial jewelry cleaner. "Orient" also falls in the color catagory. A rose` orient is the best. It almost looks like color "floating" over the body-color of the pearl.
5) Blemishes. Obviously, the less pits and fissures the better.
6) Mathcing. Does the strand look uniform?
Lastly, if the strand is "freshwater" VS. "saltwater" the value drops considerably. Have them checked by a Graduate Gemoloigst. Most jewelers (no offense to any posters) do not know the difference between the two. Good luck! I hope you made a great find!
P.S. I recently bought a nice strand in a second-hand store too! (for 25.00)
edited for spelling
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[ edited by geminspector on May 20, 2001 05:26 AM ]
