Is this pin actually a re-used clasp?

This was one of my rare GW jewelry finds - not saying that the pin is rare, but finding decent jewelry at this particular GW certainly is.

The pearls looked real and are what drew me to it ... when I flipped it over, I noticed the opening on the side that reminded me of a box clasp (like what one would see on a strand of pearls) ... then I saw the 14K. SOLD!

Do you think this was actually a clasp which was given a new life as a stick pin or could it have been made like this originally? Does anyone else think that the holes in the back were cut/sawed by hand - as opposed to some mass-produced stamped out finding?

 

Not overly experienced with this type of thing, but my personal opinion is that your supposition is correct - a re-purposed clasp.

 

This may be half of a chatelaine. That's a name used for a pair of pins with a chain between them. Sometimes they were detachable so one could be worn separately. This stick pin could also be part of a cloak clasp style thingie. It could go either way, but I'm not seeing any signs this was ever part of a necklace; there ought to be some sort of mark left behind where it was removed from cording or chain.

 

Jewelry school repair project given to a student by a sadistic instructor.Bottom clasp part looks like it was cast,top pearl part soldered to clasp part,bad soldering of pin stem,pearls heavily glued and maybe not on pearl pegs.

 

An intriguing piece. Certainly looks like 14K.

The way the "14K" is written makes me think older, or hand done? Could you bring it to a jeweler for thoughts? I'm terrible with pearls, but they say if it is gritty when you rub them on your teeth, that is a good sign.

Whether put together from different pieces or not, you still have good bit of gold there.

 

Nice find!

 

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll look at it again tomorrow with rested eyes - mine are pretty tired out now.

 

Thanks for offering that possible scenario. There certainly is a great deal of that icky brownish glue under those pearls.

 

Thank you. The pearls felt real to me ... and I do have a jeweler who could look at it and would test it for me (just not sure where I'd want him to file it ).