Chinese? turquoise and metal filigree bead necklace

Hi, and thanks for any help with this necklace. I posted it on the jewelry board and one of the poster thought perhaps it is an early Chinese necklace and I am hoping someone here can offer some insight. The necklace is about 24" long; has no clasp. It appears to be on silk thread with a knot between each bead. This is my first time posting a question on this board so I hope I am doing this correctly. Claudia



Close up of beads

 

I couldn't tell you about your necklace, but just wanted to offer the keyword "cannetille" for researching or listing.

Very pretty btw, and with that blue thread, it wouldn't surprise me if it is Chinese though I'm no expert.

 

Claudia Harris, a big "welcome" to you. You did beautifully with your post (helpful details for I.D.'ing and wonderful photos).

P.S. I like your necklace, but I'm the jewelry board's Sgt. Schultz from the old "Hogan's Heroes" tv show -- "I know nothing."

 

Thanks tie.die.cat for the answer and that you yourturntoloveit for the welcome.
There is a little story behind this necklace that I told on the jewelry board - I purchased it at a garage sale about a month ago. When I saw it I thought it looked familiar - like something I had seen before. Well, the reason it was familiar was because I had sold it at a garage sale about a year ago. I don't remember where I originally got it. But, I figured I would see what I could find out about it this time around. Claudia

 

LOL Claudia! Very nice necklace.

 

Claudia Harris, now that is funny. What goes around comes around (in this case "the neck").

 

I think you're right about it being Chinese. Age...good question. If it's real undyed turquoise, it's fairly old. If it's howlite, it's 20 years old at best. If it's magnesite under the dye it's vintage last week. My guess is brass and howlite, but if those spacers are plated sterling that's all tarnished all bets are off.

 

Thanks, evely. How do you test turquoise to see if it is real? Would a gem tester do it or do I need to take it to a jeweler. Turquoise is not that prevalent here in PA where I am now. Would most jewelers know? Claudia

 

Some will and some won't. The best way to tell is a 30x loupe and full daylight. Get a good look inside the beads and look them over for white. Turquoise hits about a 5 on the Mohs scale. Howlite is a 3.5. Magnesite is a problem, since it can register all the way from 3.5 to the 5. I don't think a gem tester is going to help much.

 

Isn't magnesite magnetic, where neither turquoise or Howlite would be?

 

Not that I know of. It's magnesium carbonate - no iron in it to attract magnets. Magnetite is another kettle of fish, but that's not the same stone.

 

Magnetite is what I was thinking.

 

Well, I decided to use my 18K acid to test this with. First I tested a known silver piece (Jane Seymour heart necklace) and got a milky white test results. Then I tested one of the beads and got the same results so, from that, can I assume the beads are silver? I have examined the turquoise beads as closely as possible and do not see any white in them. I did find one that has a small chip near the hole and there is no white in that either. I am such a coward when it comes to listing things of which I am unsure. I usually just give up and put everything in a lot but got badly burned on one of those last year and have not listed anything since. But, I still buy - does that make any sense? Thanks for all the help. Claudia

 

Claudia, my gut tells me this is vintage Chinese silver cannetille (or filigree, although not quite the same, it's used more in descriptions) gold wash turquoise necklace. It's hard to guess the age but definitely older, and it should do well if described as such.

Edited to add that collectors searching for this type of jewelry will know if it's the real thing and will bid accordingly.

 

Cali, thanks so much. I may list it or may just send it to my Secret Santa. LOL Claudia

 

Lucky Secret Santa !

 

It could be just the pics I am seeing but they look like dyed howlite? They are a robins egg blue color and if they were genuine would be worth a bundle. WHen in doubt take to a jeweler.

Dyed howlite.

 

Hard to tell from a photo.

 

Hi,
Most of the Chinese jewerly from the 50s are made with real stones. At that point they were isolated so jewelry was made and worn there. They were not exporting a lot. They did not have the knowledge of faking gem stones then ( we are not talking about Jade). I have picked up quite a few pieces as junk jewelry because of the Chinese name. I was informed about this on the old jewelry board on ebay, years ago.
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