Featured Turquoise silver pendant

I picked up a surprise bag of broken jewellery from a charity shop and as well as the rather nice surprise of two gold bracelets and some gold earrings there was this pendant. I have absolutely no idea where to even start with it apart from that its Turquoise. It’s silver (probably low grade) apart from the frame that can be seen underneath that I can’t test but pretty sure is base metal.
It’s around and inch long and only a scrap of chain attached but no clasp.
No marks to be seen.
Any thoughts please?
Thanks for any ideas as I’m really clueless about this!

 

Ok. Where is this charity shop?

 

I also wish to know that.

There's a lot of silver matrix in that stone.

 

Trade secret
It’s one I often visit as they have no idea about vintage costume and often miss gold earrings. They also change their stock regularly unlike some shops that still have the same stuff a year later.
I also picked up a Sterling watch in the fashion watch basket and a Louis Rousselet necklace!

Scrap gold but I’m not complaining. Bracelets are hallmarked and earrings test as 9ct.

Louis Rousselet necklace for £2


Sterling Pia watch. It’s a bit naff but again I’m not moaning!.

 

No idea why the watch photo came out so huge, it’s a bit scary like that .

 

Pia isn't cheap, either.

 

Slightly off your patch I think. One day, I will divulge my secrets to you

Is that good? I’m clueless about turquoise….

 

It works too and keeps good time. It will be an ebayer though as it’s really not me.

 

I’ve tried to ID the designer of the watch as Pia use some interesting people but no luck so far.

 

https://www.turquoisejewelry.com/pages/guide-to-turquoise
Don’t know if this is accurate but interesting.

 

This watch looks exactly the same but the watch face is marked Gruen. I don't know if that's the designer name or watch company name. No Pia name on it.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/126348...rch_query=tourmaline+watch&ref=sr_gallery-1-3

 

That’s interesting, good find Laura. Thankyou.
Mine isn’t marked on the watch at all. I suspect Pia make the watch strap and surround and any similar size and shape watch face snaps into it. Either that or they buy unmarked and stamp Pia on to it but surely that’s not permitted?
It would be interesting to know what the hallmark on the strap on the Etsy one says as mine is clearly stamped PIA.I’ll message them to ask!

 

Gruen was an American maker of watches until 1958. I remember the name from games that rewarded players with things instead of money on shows that ran in the after school hours in the 50s.

 

@KSW, did you see where those initials on the band are identical to yours too!!

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@Aquitaine You have such excellent observational skills and the eyes of an eagle.

 

PIA isn't a name; it's the maker's initials. If it's a Gruen watch, PIA is an English company who made the band for them. Best guess anyway. It looks like you have a Birmingham anchor on there.

 

That's a PIA mark, I've got some of their stuff. It's far too modern to be an actual Gruen watch.

 

They may both have copied an even older design; it's straight out of the Arts & Crafts playbook, although wristwatches came along a bit too late. The Met does similar things though - takes an old design and makes a new thing out of it. So..dunno.

 

I put the pendant onto a turquoise group and they ID’d as Nishapur Persian. Does that look about right?

 

100% right, and an Arts & Crafts pendant, you lucky girl!
Nishapur is still the main Iranian (Persian) turquoise mining town. I think I posted info on Nishapur here before, search Nishapur and my name.

I am not up to posting much at the moment, when I am I'll get into 'to matrix or not to matrix'.