www.925-1000.com

Have this necklace multi stranded with what appear to be real gems stones but can not find a makers mark on it.Maybe someone can tell me who and when was it made. And what kind of gems are they.
thanks in advance
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa14 ... sterl1.jpg
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa14 ... kclasp.jpg
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa14 ... sterl3.jpg
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa14 ... sterl4.jpg
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa14 ... sterl2.jpg
(admin photo edit - images too large - link only - see Posting Requirements )

glass: see bubbles in large pink ovoid spheres and in sterl2 take a close look at the 'faceted' clear beads, the rounded edges are apparent.

in sterl3 look at the orangish bead centre left and you can see a 'nipple' where glass escaped the mold and formed a projecting ring.

as for the 'pearls' rub two together or rub one over your teeth. if they feel slippery they are faux pearls of some older composition (some faux pearls are 200 or more yrs old btw). if on the other hand there's that awful scratchy 'fingernail-on-the-blackboard' sensation it would confirm that there is an actual coat of nacre (aragonite etc deposited by the mussel) on the bead. but from looking at image 4 i am more inclined to think they are old wax pearls.

as for the metal the picture is too dark.

Thanks,Yes I see that,now,
I will try to retake the picture and lighten it up,and resize my pics for posting .I also wonder who could have made it and/or when it could have been made and what kind of necklace is it(whats this kind called if any) I will also check the pearls as well as post another pic of an old rosary of the same principle. Thanks will post new pics today.

Hi
I just took better and smaller pics of the necklace.Also I rubbed the pearls across my teeth.They are gritty and hard.not like glass.Anyway here are some pics lighter of the necklace.Any idea as to how old or who may have made it?It is very tarnished and is hard to get a pic lighter.But the light came out with the flash.



Thanks again.

hi

without having it in hand it is hard for me to assess the era from which it dates though i will take a guess and say 1920, give or take (mostly give) 5-8 years. also i think, from looking at the pictures, anyway, that the lobsterclaw catch is a later replacement.

the pearls may be a kind of "imitation" - in this case i would prefer to use the word "recreation" - using ground up shells or leftover pearl bits from drilling, damaged pearls etc. which were then painted onto a core in many layers. this technique is still being used to flog "south pacific" pearls which actually are made by this method.

in any case if you want to clean the metal without harming the pearls i suggest you use cigar ashes that have been sieved to eliminate grit. but keep the rinse to a minimum.
(see viewtopic.php?t=8599&highlight=cleaning)

Thanks so much,I was curious abou the pearls as some are heavily gritty and some (smaller ones) were semi smooth.I will take a look at the link.Never heard of that before but it (the necklace) is heavily tarnished.
I would like to clean it without harming the stones or its value.
thanks
Any other opinions are welcome as well.