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Luxurious, Uncultured Quality, Circa 1940
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Akoya Pearl Necklace 20", Sumptuous
Luxurious, Uncultured Quality, Circa 1940
$3,080
$3,85020% Off
£2,349.89
£2,937.3620% Off
€2,687.24
€3,359.0520% Off
CA$4,340.38
CA$5,425.4720% Off
A$4,732.72
A$5,915.9020% Off
CHF 2,511.61
CHF 3,139.5120% Off
MX$57,217.02
MX$71,521.2720% Off
NOK 31,786.19
NOK 39,732.7420% Off
SEK 29,136.46
SEK 36,420.5820% Off
DKK 20,070.91
DKK 25,088.6420% Off
About the Item
If I had a daughter, these are the pearls I would buy her. Well, the first pearls anyway. Why? Because this 20" strand is everything a pearl necklace should be: composed of eighty-seven early (1940s) cultured Akoya pearls that measure from 3.55mm - 6.94mm. These pearls come from an era when the pearls themselves were allowed to remain in the cold waters off the coast of Japan for longer than modern pearls. This results in pearls with thick nacre; the "pearly" material that is naturally deposited by the mollusk over the carved bead inserted into each shell. The thicker the nacre, the more "uncultured" the pearl appears, displaying orient -the spectral display of color associated with natural pearls because natural pearls are entirely nacre with no bead.
I haven't send this strand to the GIA for lab testing, but I would not be terribly surprised if this strand was not in fact a strand of uncultured saltwater pearls. However, I am 85% sure these are cultured pearls and have thus priced them as such. But in every way, they display the luminosity, spectral display of color, soft, creamy tone and gorgeous surface imperfections associated with natural, uncultured pearls.
It should be said, these are also qualities associated with early cultured Akoya pearls before the process of creating perfectly spherical, blemish-free (and thin nacre) pearls was perfected.
The silver clasp is a classic pearl clasp, set with a small pearl. There's no maker's mark but this is an extremely high-quality strand of vintage Akoya pearls. Look closely at the photographs and note the surface ridges and "imperfections." These pearls possess a non-Mikimotto beauty; a beauty that is less manufactured and far more natural in appearance.
The pearls have been professionally restrung.
- Metal:
- Stone:
- Stone Cut:
- Weight:14.84 g
- Dimensions:Length: 18 in (457.2 mm)
- Style:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1930s-1940s
- Condition:Replacements made: The pearls have been professionally restrung.
- Seller Location:Northampton, MA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1589124145202
About the Seller
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