Jewelry Experts.... Estate sale find

[NOLA_Ken]

I picked this up for a couple bucks at an estate sale today. I don't know why, for some reason when I saw it I just thought I should buy it. Anyway, I know next to nothing about jewelry and less than that about this necklace. All I can say is it's heavy and seems well made, it doesn't feel "cheap"

I don't even know what style to call it, or how to go about looking up something like it. If anyone can give me an idea of age, style, maybe a maker? I'm sure it's not worth much and I don't really care, I'll probably give it away soon anyway. I'm just curious to know whatever I can about it

 

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[Mackaydon]

I know squat about jewelry, but if I had to answer I'd say it's a 'mourning' necklace from the 20s or '30s.
Don...

 

[Red-Coat]

It appears to have had a replacement clasp attached to it (the untarnished pieces) but both the replacement and the original (untarnished piece) appear to be modern lobster clasps. Those didn't exist until the 1990s (first patented 1992, and then in 1996 in the form we know it today). There were earlier forerunners with some of the same elements dating back to about 1959 but they didn't look like the clasps on your necklace.

A closer view (really close) of the original part of the clasp would confirm it, but I would say this is a modern white metal (or possibly plated base metal) fashion-statement imitation of a late Victorian style.

 

[NOLA_Ken]

It appears to have had a replacement clasp attached to it (the untarnished pieces) but both the replacement and the original (untarnished piece) appear to be modern lobster clasps. Those didn't exist until the 1990s (first patented 1992, and then in 1996 in the form we know it today). There were earlier forerunners with some of the same elements dating back to about 1959 but they didn't look like the clasps on your necklace.

A closer view (really close) of the original part of the clasp would confirm it, but I would say this is a modern white metal (or possibly plated base metal) fashion-statement imitation of a late Victorian style.

the white metal clasp is a magnetic closure, I'm assuming the original owner had arthritis... I'm guessing it's likely 1970's, because from what I've found that's when this style of lobster clasp came around... possibly Avon, but like I said I really don't know

 

[Red-Coat]

the white metal clasp is a magnetic closure, I'm assuming the original owner had arthritis... I'm guessing it's likely 1970's, because from what I've found that's when this style of lobster clasp came around... possibly Avon, but like I said I really don't know

Yes, I realised a magnetic clasp has been added between the lobsters, but the replacement lobster and the original appear to be of the same type... which didn't appear until the 1990s. As I said, a better picture of the original lobster would help confirm that, but the earliest it could be would be about 1959.

1959


1976


1992


1996

 

[ARC]

Sorry to inform you... these are sold at Ross.. Bells ...Khols... TJmax... JCpennys ... Sears... Shall I continue ?

If you paid a couple bucks and are going to wear it... then you got a great deal.

 

[ARC]

PS... and yes... that clasp has been added...... more than likely to add enough length... someone had a large neck. heh

 

[randazzo1]

Sorry to inform you... these are sold at Ross.. Bells ...Khols... TJmax... JCpennys ... Sears... Shall I continue ?

If you paid a couple bucks and are going to wear it... then you got a great deal.

Yeah agreed. Completely modern. That shiny black metallic coating is another giveaway. I would call it a multi strand collar bib. Sometimes ppl call them cleopatra necklaces.

 

[GoldieLocks]

Faux costume jewelry. There is a specialist in Redding, CA you may be able to sell it to or get more info on it. He has a used thrift store with a funny name. I am sure it would be easy to look up under costume jewelry ad part of the search terms.