Tag Archives: pearls

Appraisal Types, Education/Learning

4 Things to Do with Inherited Jewelry

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Moms EstateHave you just received your Grandmother’s pendant as a gift or inheritance?

Are you troubled by the emotional significance of this keepsake, but probably won’t wear it as it’s not to your taste?

 

 Here are 4 Things you can do…

  1. Sell it outright to an interested party
  2. Donate it to a charity
  3. Send it to an auction sale
  4. Re-design it and enjoy the memories

In each of the above actions, there is a critical piece of information that can help with the decision.  It is the value of the item.  Emotional value is determined by the recipient, but monetary value is information that requires expertise and knowledge.

Jewelry Judge Ben Gordon helps with information to base decisions upon. 

Call 713 492 – 1432 or click consultation to reserve 15 minutes of free consultation time to determine your best action. 

Houston Jewelry Appraiser Jewelry Judge Ben Gordon - 15 Minutes Why a Free 15 Minute Consultation?

A free consultation points you in the right direction.

For those who which to sell estate jewelry or any fine jewelry or watches,  you’ll learn what market price you might expect and even locate a potential buyer for your item.  If considering a donation, learn what paperwork you’ll need to document its value.  For those selling at auction, find out which auction houses to consider and what to expect.  And for those who wish to create a new design or refresh the look of a vintage piece, Mr. Gordon can advise on resources.  Grandmothers would approve!

Jewelry Judge Ben Gordon - Virtual Appraisal

Education/Learning

The Jewelry Judge – Identifying Pearls

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Jewelry Judge Ben Gordon - Pearl IDPearl is the Birthstone for June and the 30th wedding anniversary. The Jewelry Judge shares his knowledge and experience with clients everyday.

How do you tell the difference between a natural pearl and its cultured cousins?

Do you know the difference between freshwater cultured pearls and Japanese Akoya?

Pear Necklace

The most valuable cultured pearls are saltwater pearls that originate from oysters of the Pinctada family and include Akoya, Tahitian and South Sea varieties.  They are prized for their nacre, the iridescent outer layer of the pearl, and satiny luster.

Pinctada fucata is the species of oyster used by Kokichi Mikimoto, the Japanese pearl farmer and entrepreneur credited with creating the first cultured pearl.

OysterCultured pearls are created by taking a spherical bead nucleus, inserting it into the oyster to provide a catalyst around which the nacre grows, forming a pearl. If a bead nucleus is present when looking down the drill hole, this is confirmation of a cultured origin.

Pearl StrandsChina uses mussels in farming the freshwater cultured pearls they produce in large quantities. Freshwater pearls are usually more affordable than saltwater cultured pearls and they are available in a wide range of prices, shapes, sizes and colors. Tissue-nucleated freshwater pearls are mainly baroque with some variations while bead-nucleated pearls are mostly semi-round to round.

There are many pearl look-a-likes (imitations) on the market including plastic, shell-coated beads, mother-of-pearl beads and even glass beads that contain ground fish scales called ‘essence d’orient’.

Identifying Pearls:

  1. Rub the pearl across your front tooth, it should feel gritty, not smooth.
  2. Rub two pearls of a strand together, once again they should feel gritty, not smooth.
  3. Evaluate the drill hole. The pearl’s drilled hole is a smooth cross cut, while the faux bead will have a punched out appearance.
  4. Cultured pearls are not perfect in appearance. Faux beads are perfectly round and smooth without defects.
  5. Over time paint chips may be noted as faux beads age.
  6. Weight of cultured pearls is heavier than faux beads.

 

The sizes of cultured akoyas overlap those of freshwater pearls, but the superior luster and surface quality of akoyas will stand out when compared to freshwater pearls.

Caution:

  1. Be on the lookout for treatments that are used to enhance color. Inexpensive freshwater cultured pearls may be dyed black to imitate Tahitians or dyed gold to simulate South Sea golden pearls.
  2. Inspect the exterior surface of the pearl for concentrations of dye, or peer down the drill hole to determine if dyed after drilling.
  3. Sometimes lighter-colored Tahitians may be dyed or the bead nucleus irradiated so the pearl appears black.

Identifying pearl types and treatments can be a complex task.
See the Judge and he will share his expertise during a consultation.

Consumer Alert, Education/Learning, Estate Appraisals

What Should You Do With Mom’s Jewelry?

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Estate3 A parents death is a traumatic and difficult experience for those left behind.

Don’t let the estate settlement of your jewelry cause additional complexity or disharmony among your heirs.

We know jewelry is important to some and less important to others.

To some it is memories and a story that connects them to the dearly departed.

To others it represents a financial gift.

Protect Your Inheritance by ensuring you have fair market value appraisal reports for your estate jewelry and include a copy with your will. Designate an heir to receive each piece or have the estate sell the jewelry, since cash is always easier to fairly distribute.

Prevent misunderstandings and ill feelings. If you are in the process of settling an estate that includes jewelry, bring it in for a consultation, so we can help identify what is real and what is costume jewelry. Too often people discard items, thinking them fake when they are actually real. Some costume jewelry has value as collector items.

Don’t let some appraiser come in and cherry-pick the best pieces.

We Do Not Buy or Sell Jewelry!

Come in for a Jewelry Judge Consultation, call (713) 961-1432 or Book an Appointment On-Line Today!

Education/Learning

Chinese Freshwater Cultured Pearl

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 2017 Pearl Update – Know What You Have – Get a Jewelry Judge Consultation Today!

Freshwater pearl farming was initially started in Japan in the 1930’s, but today China is the biggest commercial producer of freshwater pearls.  Fine quality Chinese Freshwater pearls are growing in the gem trade.  Chinese freshwater pearls have earned widespread consumer appeal thanks to the many varieties, shapes, colors and styles. Per strand prices in the hundreds and even thousands of dollars are not unusual.

baroque-flame-type-bead-nucleated-chinese-freshwater-pearls

There are mainly two different types of farmed pearls, tissue nucleated and bead nucleated.  Nucleation is the process of growing cultured pearls by inserting a foreign object, the nucleus, into the mollusk.  The mollusk covers the nucleus with nacre until a pearl is formed.  The nucleus can be a bead or a piece of mantle tissue from another mollusk shell.  Beads provide a larger more uniform pearl in less time for the farmers.

edison-pearls The biggest sellers in the freshwater market are Edison pearls, which are bead nucleated, big and round. Fine and extra fine pearls command the highest prices because they are popular with buyers, large sizes ranging from 12mm to 20mm, and for their smooth surface, excellent luster and vivid colors of white, peach, pink, gold, metallic, plum, and aubergine-purple.

Buyers need to be aware of increases of pearl farming labor costs. Small Chinese Freshwater Cultured pearls under 3.5mm reflect a 20% to 40% increase in 2017. Note that these stronger prices reflect the finest quality freshwater pearls.

chinesefreshwater_pearls

Over production of freshwater pearls in China has caused large inventories and lower prices for average quality and dyed pearls.

dyed_chinese-freshwater-pearls

There were plenty of strands in Tucson available in 10mm to 11mm rounds for $25-$45 per strand (unstrung) wholesale.  While average to below average quality, these were still amazingly low prices. Fine and extra fine pearls were far less common and much more expensive.