I've inherited some pearls.... - YouLookFab Forum

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I've inherited some pearls....

Nicole

Veteran

Actually, I inherited them years ago, from my husband's grandmother. I had lent them to my mother for a special occasion and then completely forgot about them. While visiting her today, she told me she wanted me to take them back. (I have 7 sisters and she's afraid she'll forget which daughter lent them to her.)

So, I don't really know squat about pearls...I don't even know if they are real. If they are not real, then they are good quality fake. They are a double strand, one strand a little longer than the other and the overall length is about 26". They have a very slight pinkish hue to them. They are knotted between each pearl. The clasp has no markings and does not seem to be real gold. The clasp itself looks like a crown, with fake diamonds and tiny pearls in a pattern. This clasp has led me to beleive they are not real--I'd think real pearls would have a real gold clasp.

The longer strand falls into my cleavage. I wish they were choker length, I'd be more likely to wear them. I have to be honest, I never would have considered wearing them. But knowing what I know now..and knowing that pearls have a high AAR, I'm reconsidering.

So, any ideas would be appreciated. Also, should I take them to a jewler to determine if they are real? I mean, I don't know why I would need to know that...other than insurance purposes.

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20 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

Julia

Nicole, it sounds like a wonderful necklace. Can you post a picture of it? I'm sure our pearl Queen Angie would give you loads of advices.

I noticed that JCrew has several cute double strand pearl-like necklaces/bracelets. I wonder if they are good buys that can last for a long time.

http://www.jcrew.com/catalog/p.....=cat302270
http://www.jcrew.com/catalog/p.....=cat302270
http://www.jcrew.com/catalog/p.....=cat302271

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Oh! I love the double strand bead necklace and bracelet with the flower (I'm partial to cream and coral, hee hee), and the giraffe is super cute! That's your animal, right Julia? I have a hard time figuring out how to wear long necklaces, just because I never have.

I'm not sure how to wear the necklace Nicole, I'm sorry. I know Angie will know what to do, though. I don't think it really matters whether the pearls are real or not if you like the necklace and they aren't gaudy or bad imitations.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I am a pearl girl. (Thank you for remembering). One needs to get the right pearl pieces though. Do you think that you could measure the diameter of the pearls and post a picture of them? This will help a great deal. Julia has her thinking cap on. Super suggestion!

( you have 7 sisters??? You Mum was VERY busy)

Julia

You're right Ana, giraffe is my animal. With $150 a piece, I'd better be able to wear it with multiple outfits for many years. Thoughts on that Angie? And Nicole hope you don't mind me hijacking your thread but you always have good topics!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Julia, as much as I’m attracted to the giraffe clasp, I feel that the longevity of pearls lies in their colour - white. Of course, one can have multiple strands of pearl necklaces, but if you are after one. I’d keep them white. How do you feel?

Julia

That makes sense, thanks Angie!

shiny

Veteran

Tips for distinguishing real vs fake pearls:

http://stanpauljewelry.com/art.....earls.html

I have three strands of real (cultured) pearls, and a couple fake ones. One strand was a high school graduation gift from my father (my first real jewelry); one I bought myself (black pearls); the third was a gift from a very good friend (double strand of minimotos from Japan- beautiful!!).

The biggest difference is that fake ones don't have the same sort of glow to them. Real pearls improve over time, the more you handle them, they pick up your body oils. They get prettier and prettier the more you wear them and the older they are. The pinkish hue you describe, makes me think these may indeed be real. Fakes tend to look more uniform in color and don't have the same depth. Hard to describe.

The double knotting between pearls is a good sign - if they're fake, it is a quality fake!

It is quite possible you have a real strand of pearls, but the clasp was replaced long ago.

Nicole

Veteran

Thanks for that helpful link and info Shiny. Here's a photo of the pearls...

http://s289.photobucket.com/al.....-12005.jpg

If you scroll thru my photo bucket there's a full shot of them too.

I have no idea how to measure pearls. I tried usin the CM side of a fabric tape measure. The diameter is 7/10th of one centimeter. Maybe our inhouse math gurus, Tanya and Ana, know how to equate that into mm.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I think those are 7 mm pearls, Nicole. 1 cm = 10 mm.

I like the look of them. The clasp is interesting.

Tanya

Veteran

Very pretty pearls Nicole, but I know nothing abot pearls so i can'r say anything on the authenticity. And, btw, 7/10 of a centimeter is 7 mm (1mm is 1/10 of a cm).

Nicole

Veteran

I never got that whole metric thing. I remember in grade school being told that we better learn it cuz it was the way of the future. That sent me into a panic!

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I forgot, too. I had to look it up.

Tanya

Veteran

Don't worry Nicole, since I was born&grew up in Europe we exsclusively used the metric cystem there. Now I'm having troubles with all the feet and inches here.
And don't get me started on the temeprature conversion, that one I still have to look up every time even tough I've been here for 6 years!

Nicole

Veteran

Ok, so I'm at a loss as to what to wear with these pearls. Mostly because of the length...26". I have long necklaces that I wear long or doubled up, and I have short necklaces that I prefer. But this 26" length is kind of annoying. If I wear anything but a high neckline (something I rarely wear), the lower strand falls into my cleavage. Any suggestions?

Steph

Veteran

Nicole,
If you really want them to be choker length, why not take them to a jeweler and ask to have them reknotted? You can tell them the length you want the pearls to be. This means you will end up with extra pearls. With those you could either ask them to add a third strand to the necklace (if there are enough), or you can do something else with the extras. I had a pearl necklace shortened and then I asked a jewelry designer to take the extra pearls and make a bracelet for me--basically a chain bracelet with the pearls hanging off at even intervals throughout the bracelet (I hope that makes sense--I have since learned how to bead and manipulate wire and could now make this bracelet myself).

It sounds like these are just too long for you, so that would be my solution. Once my pearls were shortened I started wearing them a lot more. It's like getting your pants hemmed!

Julia

That's such a beautiful necklace! I like Steph's idea to have it shortened if it's too long for you. You can also make earrings out of the extra pearls.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

BEAUTIFUL. The length would drive me crazy too. My suggestion would be to choose your length and have them shortened by a professional. It’ll be worth every penny. This is a piece that you can eventually pass down to your daughter, Nicole. I’m thinking not quite choker length, but a little longer than the necklace that you were wearing with the Esprit top today to do the clasp which you will wear in front, justice.

I’m so glad that the pearl strand is double. It has absolutely saved this piece from looking matronly. Now it’s got a stylish and pukka vintage edge which is precisely what you want.

Ps. I’m metric too and still battle with feet and inches

Nicole

Veteran

One question:

The strands are not exactly the same length. One strand hangs a good inch or two lower than the other. Should I keep that distance? Should the lower strand only be slightly longer, so the two strands touch?

This is a good excuse for me to have another piece of heirloom jewelry repaired. My mom gave me her College ring--it's a rectangle shape black onyx, set in a gold frame with her school's insignia MSD--Modern School of Design. Let's see my mom will be 80, so the ring must be 58 years old. The the back of the ring is split.

Nicole

Veteran

ps. Angie, Thanks for telling me to wear the clasp in front. I wouldn't have known to do that. Do I wear it off center?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Good question. An inch sounds like a lot. Perhaps half an inch? Exactly. Wear the clasp to the side.

College ring sounds super.