Antique Peach Pearl Sterling Hooks Ancient Angel Tears

Genuine, Natural, Solid, Pink Salt-Water Pearls on Sterling Silver French Hooks.

Not freshwater, not cultured, but solid pink salt water pearls. Each about 1 carat.

The Red Sea was the primary source of pearls for the Ancient Mediterranean world. They were highly prized in the ancient classical world, where it was believed that pearls were formed when an angel's tears fell into an open oyster shell. Here are three sumptuous genuine natural pink salt water pearls set onto sterling silver french hooks. Please do not confuse them with cheap, plastic-center, thinly coated cultured pearl imitations. The vast majority of the pearls one sees on the market these days are just that - cultured pearls with a few thin layers of pearl atop an artificial core. These gemstone grade pink pearls are solid, natural saltwater pearls. We picked them up in Hyderabad, India. They are at least fifty years old (the pearls, not the hooks), and they were represented to us as being from the waters off Ceylon (Sri Lanka - off the Southern tip of India). Given the nice pink color and the fact that these waters have in past been the traditional source of pink pearls for the Indian marketplace, it seems likely these are in fact medium grade pink salt water pearls from Ceylon.

The pearls have been matched as closely as natural pearls can be matched. None of them are perfectly identical, each of them slightly different from the other, so friendly eyes and hands in Bombay matched them up as well as ordinary mortals are likely capable given the unique nature of these gemstones. They possess a highly polished, reflective, lustrous, creamy pink surfaces with iridescent highlights. The pearls are accented with sterling silver beads. The hooks are sterling silver as well, not cheap silver plate. It's a first-class piece of jewelry throughout. The pearls are natural, so are not perfectly round. Perfectly round pearls are not common in nature - they are generally induced by man, i.e., cultured pearls which consist of a few layers of pearl over a manmade center. These pearls are about five millimeters in diameter, and about six millimeters in length - slightly elongated. Each pearl weighs approximately one carat. Those caveats in mind, these are very nice, hard to find gemstones. These images are of the pair offered.

You might guess I travel extensively for a living. My profession is a purchasing agent for antique gemstones, which generally come from Russia, India, Ceylon, and Siam. I grew up in the Southern Urals of Russia, just miles away from some of the greatest gemstone producing regions in the world’s history. Alexandrite, diamond, emerald, sapphire, chrysoberyl, topaz, demantoid garnet, and many other rare and precious gemstones are produced from the mountains within mere minutes or a few hours from the city I once called home. My interest in the fabulous history of Russian gemstones and the fabulous jewelry of the Czar’s led to further education and contacts in India, Ceylon, and Siam, other ancient centers of gemstone production and finishing. Though perhaps difficult to find in the USA, antique gemstones are commonly unmounted from old, broken settings – the gold reused – the gemstones recut and reset.

Before this happens, before these gorgeous antique gemstones are recut, I try to acquire the best of them in their original, antique, hand-finished state – most of them centuries old. I believe that the work created by these long-gone master artisans is worth protecting and preserving rather than destroying this heritage of antique gemstones by recutting the original work out of existence. That by preserving their work, in a sense, we are preserving their lives and the legacy they left for modern times. Far better to appreciate their craft than to destroy it with modern cutting. Not everyone agrees – fully 95% or more of the antique gemstones which come into these marketplaces are recut, and the heritage of the past lost. But if you agree with me that the past is worth protecting, and that past lives and the produce of those lives still matters today, consider buying an antique, hand cut, natural gemstone rather than one of the mass-produced machine cut (often synthetic or “lab produced”) gemstones which dominate the market today.

I can set most any antique gemstone you purchase from me, in your choice of styles and metals ranging from rings to pendants to earrings and bracelets; in sterling silver, 14kt solid gold, and 14kt gold fill. In my travels back and forth between the USA, Asia, and Eastern Europe I also tend to accumulate a lot of books, CD’s, and audio recordings. So I oftentimes have lightly used CD’s, once-read books, audio recordings, and even some antique books I buy in Europe for sale as well. And occasionally I will find such a good buy on contemporary jewelry for my clients that I will purchase a few extra pieces to offer on eBay. These are always offered clearly labeled as contemporary, and not antiques – just to avoid confusion. I also end up with boatloads of jewelry and gemstone samples which were not fully distributed to the retailers I purchase on behalf of. Some really great pieces, including antiques, pearls, as well as some pieces of antique Russian jewelry.

I have always been fascinated with jewelry and gemstones. Bangkok, Taipei, Hong Kong, Moscow, and Bombay are great places to find incredible deals on both gemstones and jewelry, and over the years I have made many friends within the trade in these five cities. So you can look for a steady flow of little treasures I discover in my travels, and I will be happy to share with you the best deals I can find through my industry acquaintances in these far-off Asian lands. Though I spend a good part of each year in Europe and Asia, most of the year I am here in the United States, and that's where all of my little treasures are. So you can count on quick shipping and careful packaging. And if I am not home - I have someone who does it for me!

Domestic shipping is $3.99 for first class mail or $6.99 for Priority Mail. Domestic rates include USPS Delivery Confirmation (you might be able to update the status of your shipment on-line at the USPS Web Site). Canadian shipments are $3.99 for Air Mail; International shipments are $4.99 for Air Mail (and generally are NOT tracked; trackable shipments are EXTRA). I can add most other items I sell to the shipment for only $0.99 each. Your purchase will ordinarily be shipped within 48 hours of payment. We package as well as anyone in the business, with lots of protective padding and containers. Trackable and insured shipments are required by PayPal for all eBay purchases utilizing PayPal as a payment method. Therefore shipping costs for this item includes the fee for postal insurance ($2 for domestic shipments; $3 for international shipments); and is required for whenever PayPal is used as the payment method.

We do NOT recommend uninsured shipments, and expressly disclaim any responsibility for the loss of an uninsured shipment. Unfortunately the contents of parcels are easily “lost” or misdelivered by postal employees – even in the USA. We do offer U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail, Registered Mail, and Express Mail for both international and domestic shipments, as well United Parcel Service (UPS) and Federal Express (Fed-Ex). Please ask for a rate quotation. We will accept whatever payment method you are most comfortable with. If upon receipt of the item you are disappointed for any reason whatever, I offer a no questions asked return policy. Send it back, I will give you a complete refund of the purchase price. We do offer a certificate of authenticity (COA) upon request for all of our items. There is a $2 fee for mailing under separate cover. Please see our "ADDITIONAL TERMS OF SALE."