Featured QUESTIONS ON 2 VINTAGE COSTUME? NECKLACES

These were part of a box of nice costume jewelry (one name I remember are some lucite Alex Bittar bracelets) that was left by my mom for my brother, sister & i.

For the necklace with all the pieces - what are they? Also the clasp has a tag with the initials RR on one side & the number 129 on the other side - what is this; from a auction maybe?

For the 2nd necklace - it looks like 3 bone pieces but I can't see any grain, yet it is on a sterling silver chain; did costume jewelry use sterling necklaces?

Any idea what the 3 pieces are? (what would I call it?)

Thank you for any help - and happy holidays

 

First one looks like some sort of shell and the second could be boar tusks.

 

First one is shell, indeed and given the second is Italian silver set, boar is likely. They both shout late 80s into early 90s. There's a term for that shell cut, I've forgotten it.

 

1970s, I'd think. The one with toggle clasp more recent.

Debora

 

davey, those go from the 60s right up to yesterday. Agree that toggles are generally later.

 

Agreed. Most toggles are from the last 15-20 years. Lobster clasp generally mean 1990 or later. That's not always true, but it's a good rule of thumb. The Italian silver piece could be anything from 25 years old to last week.

 

That tag looks like a pattern or stock code.

 

@journeymagazine
Did your Mom travel?
My first impression.
The first necklace made me think Hawaiian souvenir, but could be any resort gift shop.

 

I thought the re might be artist's initials
Thank you guys!

 

No she stayed in Carolinas - but the lady she was nanny to her kids for over 10 years made a joke at her celebration of life service to the effect my mom was kind to kids (she was also a Sunday school teacher) strangers - and Norstrom's bottom line!

 

Those shell necklaces got all over, Ma bought one locally in London.

 

The Japanese made them by the ton, metric that is, and they were exported everywhere.

 

i like the tusk necklace , but it really should be more of a choker.....
just sayin..