Skip to main content
Video Loading
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 7

Akoya Pearl & Necklace Diamond Clasp 9mm Luxury Size Pearls, circa 1980s

About the Item

This is a stunning vintage pearl necklace measuring 18 inches in length and composed of 55 9mm-9.4mm round cultured Akoya pearls and finished with an 18K white gold beaded ball clasp which glitters with a multitude of small full-cut diamonds that total approximately .50 carats. The necklace was purchased in the United Kingdom but bears no hallmarks. It's very well-made and remains on its original silk, which still appears sturdy. I believe the necklace dates to the 1980s. Cultured Akoya pearls over 8mm in diameter are the most coveted of all Akoya pearls because fine ones are difficult to achieve. The longer a pearl remains inside the oyster the thicker the nacre and larger it grows but the greater the opportunity for any number of variables to come along and spoil the pearl. These large 9-9.4mm pearls are luminous and stunning: they are creamy-white with a soft pink overtone. The pearls possess a nice, sharp shine. Is there any single piece of jewelry more classic, more iconic and more always-in-style than a strand (or two or three or four) of pearls? This 18" necklace truly represents the quintessential cultured Akoya pearl necklace, with large fine pearls
More From This SellerView All
  • Midcentury Pearl Necklace with Jade Clasp Luxury Cultured Akoya Pearls
    Located in Southbury, CT
    This pearl necklace features a certified jade clasp that has been certified natural and untreated. The creamy-white -almost golden- pearls average a luxurio...
    Category

    Mid-20th Century Modern Beaded Necklaces

    Materials

    Jade, Pearl, 14k Gold

  • Akoya Pearl Double Strand Necklace with Gold & Diamond Clasp Pristine Midcentury
    Located in Southbury, CT
    This 16" strand of vintage cultured Akoya pearls features large and luminous pearls. 8.31mm, 8.24mm, 8.19mm, 8.04mm, 8.29mm, 8.43mm, 8.51mm: these are measurements I took of the pearls at random. In the world of cultured Akoya pearls, 8mm is the delineating mark; 8mm and larger are considered "luxury" pearls because of the time and risk involved in culturing pearls this large. The longer a pearl stays in the water, the thicker the nacre but the greater the chances for malformation. With this strand, we have the ideal: uniform, round pearls with thick nacre, and gorgeous luminosity, but without the pits and surface imperfections, we often see in pearls of this size and vintage. The vast majority of Akoya pearls are 6mm and 7mm. All of these pearls are 8mm and well beyond. If the classic 16" length feels too short for you, it's easy for your jeweler to add a bit of length by having the pearls restrung with double knots and French wire. In this way, you can transform this into a 17" necklace. This necklace, created in the 1950s, features two strands of 75 top-quality cultured Akoya pearls in a near-ivory tone without any evidence of pinking, the dying process the vast majority of cultured Akoya pearls undergo to give them a light pink blush. These pearls lack that artificial tint. The clasp is measures 23mm x 19.47 and was hand-fabricated. The clasp is formed into the shape of a flower with six small, full-cut diamonds prong-set in the center Interestingly, the diamonds are of far better quality than such small stones on a necklace clasp need to be. They are near-colorless (G-I) and clean (VS2). Together they weigh .25 carats. The clasp is unmarked but tests as 14K. This is the ultimate classic double-strand cultured Akoya necklace...
    Category

    Mid-20th Century Unknown Retro Beaded Necklaces

    Materials

    Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Gold

  • Double Strand Akoya Pearl Necklace
    Located in Southbury, CT
    This double strand of cultured Akoya pearls was created in the 1950s and features exceptionally large —9.00-9.40mm— pearls with thick, ...
    Category

    Mid-20th Century Japanese Retro Beaded Necklaces

    Materials

    Pearl

  • Unisex Akoya Pearl & Chain Necklace with Diamond New
    Located in Southbury, CT
    This brand-new one-of-a-kind necklace was created by PEARL/SAW, creator of "gender-defiant pearl jewelry anyone can wear" and my store is currently the only online retailer of their fantastically cool pieces. This 26" necklace is composed of 48 approximately 6.5 mm vintage...
    Category

    2010s Artisan Beaded Necklaces

    Materials

    Diamond, Pearl

  • Akoya Pearl Necklace Vintage 1970s Ming's
    Located in Southbury, CT
    This cultured Akoya pearl necklace was created in the 1970s by venerable Hawaiian luxury jeweler, Ming's. Composed of 89 semi-baroque gleaming Akoya pearls that average 7.5mm, the 31...
    Category

    Mid-20th Century American Modern Beaded Necklaces

    Materials

    Pearl, 14k Gold

  • Double Strand Akoya Pearl Necklace, Germany
    Located in Southbury, CT
    A double strand of huge, luxurious warm-toned cultured Akoya pearls -what a treasure! The most classic, timeless necklace there is: a double strand of large and fine cultured Akoya pearls in golden cream with a soft pink overtone. Akoya cultured pearls 8mm in diameter and larger are uncommon, which is why 8mm represents the dividing line between ordinary Akoya pearls and "luxury-sized" Akoya pearls. This vintage necklace features 87 pearls in two strands and the pearls measure between approximately 8.35mm to 8.93mm. The length of the inner strand is 15" while the outer strand is about an inch longer. So it wears like a 15 ½ necklace, sitting right over the hollow of your neck. The 9K yellow gold clasp is marked for J. Köhle, a German jewelry manufacturer in business since 1872. This is a weighty necklace, tipping the scales at just over 80 grams. That's a lot of weight for a 15 ½ inch necklace...
    Category

    Mid-20th Century German Modern Beaded Necklaces

    Materials

    Pearl, 9k Gold

You May Also Like
  • Art deco Akoya pearl necklace 18K gold diamond clasp
    Located in Versailles, FR
    Known as the “Queen of Gems”, pearls have been coveted for centuries. For sale a timeless single strand Akoya salt water pearl necklace, consisting of 121 rounded pearls, dated back...
    Category

    Early 20th Century British Art Deco Beaded Necklaces

    Materials

    Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold

  • Princess Length 7mm Akoya Pearl Necklace with Vintage White Gold & Diamond Clasp
    By Eytan Brandes
    Located in Sherman Oaks, CA
    These are NOT a "modest wardrobe staple" easily overlooked and neither adding to nor subtracting from any given outfit. These are the show-offy, evening-ready, super-white, super-...
    Category

    2010s North American Contemporary Beaded Necklaces

    Materials

    Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold

  • Gubelin Yellow Sapphire Diamond Yellow Gold 18K Clasp Pearl Necklace 1980S
    By Gubelin
    Located in Geneva, CH
    Yellow Sapphire Cushion shape estimated approximately 5.50 / 6.50 carats (treated) surrounded by round-cut Diamond on Yellow Gold 18K Clasp Cultured Pearl Necklace (pearl necklace is...
    Category

    Vintage 1980s Swiss Beaded Necklaces

    Materials

    Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

  • 8mm Akoya Japanies Pearl Triple Strand choker Necklace, Sterling Silver Clasp
    Located in New York, NY
    Introducing the 8mm Akoya Japan Pearl Triple Strand choker Necklace, complete with a Sterling Silver clasp. This exquisite Pearl necklace boasts t...
    Category

    2010s Beaded Necklaces

    Materials

    Pearl, Sterling Silver

  • Akoya Pearls Necklace 14k Y Gold Ball Clasp Certified
    Located in Brooklyn, NY
    Fine Quality Akoya Pearls Necklace 38" 14k Y Gold Ball Clasp 8.52 mm $8,790 216205 Custom Made Designer Flapper Japanese Akoya Pearl! This is a Unique Cus...
    Category

    2010s American Beaded Necklaces

    Materials

    Pearl, Gold

  • French 1980s 18 Karat Yellow Gold Clasp Cultured Pearl Necklace
    Located in Poitiers, FR
    Necklace of cultured pearls in fall pearly white orient. The clasp is in 18 karat yellow gold, eagle head hallmark, type handcuff. Diameter of the pearls : 4,5/5 to 8/8,5 mm approxim...
    Category

    Vintage 1980s French Retro Beaded Necklaces

    Materials

    Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Recently Viewed

View All