Featured Pearls... but what kind? ;-)

131 pearls, 98cm long!!! 7mm pearl diameter, 60 grams.
Head line listing said Mallorca pearls... seller described as gritty under her teeth

Bought for 52€, VERY IMPATIENT to get it, and clean all the perfume which yellowed the pearls

 

What do you clean your pearls with, Kyra?

 

Mallorcas shouldn't feel gritty........cause they're glass.
They look 'akoya-like' to me!

 

First tepid soapy water, then a spray with a kind of ammonia windex if not success and thoroughly rinse. Never damaged pearls or other said fragile stones with it.

 

Yes, to me too the seller (I’m a repeated happy buyer )said she made a mistake in the title, and She was glad it was me who got the bargain

 

Thank you!

 

Krya, I have older 1950s pearl strand necklaces, would this mixture possibly be able to remove the yellowing of age? Is that what we are looking at here? I remember my grandmother wore her pearls, and it shows. I have always wanted to try them on, but they're just too yellowed to think of wearing.

 

Majorica aren't glass in the same way that many fake pearls are. They're a core, yes, but layer after layer of fish scale on top. They can indeed feel gritty.

These look like the more common coated glass, but they'd need to be held and judged. They'll be heavier than Majorica ones if they're coated. The yellow may be the actual colour. That doesn't look like a Majorica clasp.

 

That's a classic hidden clasp; they're never used on precious jewelry to my knowledge. The metal might be sterling anyway.

 

You have to check carefully before doing anything they are not coated! If not, have a go, anyway you're not wearing them in that state
https://www.purepearls.com/pages/real-or-fake-how-to-tell-if-your-pearls-are-genuine

 

They were used on genuine pearls too!
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-pearl-necklace-28-long-5mm-1725509717


https://preadored.com/antique-natural-baroque-pearls-10k-gold-bracelet-rosary-style/


While searching images, I found this interesting "mystery clasp" (To me, the mystery is... how to find it when you want to take your necklace off...)
https://www.gempacked.com/blog/a-de...tery-clasps-the-most-mysterious-clasp-of-all/

 

Of course, having in hand and under a loupe will tell for sure
But I'm rather confident they are cultured, the yellow is uneven on the whole strand, and I can see in enlargement some surface texture non consistent with Majorica
This one is Majorica, hidden clasp, but the texture and shine isn't same, plus, you can see around the hole the little "tunnel" indicating the dipping in coat
Too small to enlarge... Go to the listing to see better:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-8m...-Hidden-pearl-Clasp-unused-mint-/383397503750

 

I agree, I have a coral necklace in need of repair that has a 14k hidden clasp.

 

Thank you for the encouragements and the links, I will take a close look at them next time I run across them.

 

Ooh that clasp is lovely!

 

That Ebay listing is saying generic Majorca rather than Majorica. Not quite sure how they draw that conclusion. Majorica, I've not seen with hidden clasps. I to have seen older precious with hidden: Edwardian or so.

 

Yea, I am trying to decide what to do with the broken necklace, it is VERY LONG. I could probably make 3 necklaces out of it. I don't know why they needed a clasp for something that long but I'm glad they did

 

I think I need that clasp!

 

Restringing the beads isn't that difficult. Tedious, but not difficult. at least if you have good close-in vision. (us nearsighted folks don't have a problem.)

 

maybe if you wanted to wear an opera length, as a double strand choker ..