We need pictures ... the styling will give a clue to age.

Thanks, Linda for your help. I hope someone has some information on this necklace.

WOW! I doubt they are real pearls, but that's a really great necklace. Get a couple books on costume jewelry - changes in the catch mechanisms and stone mountings can help date it. The box pattern looks vaguely oriental, so perhaps it is an imported cultured pearl piece. The big beads at the ends of the danglies are undoubtedly fake ... (if real, they could make your mortgage payment!)

Take a magnifying glass and check the metal for marks ... if it is sterling silver it will say so. Sparklies are perhaps "marcasite" or may be crystal. Or may be tiny diamonds!

Stylistically ... perhaps early 20s? Can you imagine that necklace dangling down the bosom of a floozie dancing the charleston?

And can you spot it in any family photos?

Who did it supposedly belong to first?

Here is a link that might be useful: the pearls

Rub the beads against your teeth....if they feel slightly sandy, they are real "nacre"....could be natural pearls or cultured and of course that doesn't indicate quality.
However I doubt that they are cultured because of the way they are strung...no knots between the beads.
Do the tooth test and report back!
Linda C

Sorry for not replying sooner - I was out of town. I've checked the back of the metal and it is stamped STERLING. That's all it says. As for the pearls - the only one that feels sandy is the small one in the centre of the metal circle.
When my MIL passed away, I was the one who cleaned out her house - 40+ years of memories and things! What a task, although I felt it helped me heal greatly. This necklace was found in one of the old trunks - along with some old clothes and papers. I've never seen a picture of anyone wearing it - I didn't even know it existed until I found it, so I don't have any history on it. Very unfortunate - I'd love to know who it belonged to and when/where they wore it.
Any ideas of where I could take it to find out more about it? Where is the Antique Roadshow when you need it?? LOL
Thanks for all your input and for posting the picture for me!

Sue

"This necklace was found in one of the old trunks - along with some old clothes and papers. "

Whose names on the papers and what style were the clothes?

One useful resource for dating these things are the repro sears catalogs. They were very trendy. You won't usually find the exact item, but the general style is usually there.

The old clothes were my FIL's air force jacket, stained baby clothes(not that old), and some old tablecloths, runners, etc. The papers, unfortunately, got thrown out - my ex said they were old newspaper clippings and falling apart. Apparently, he didn't even read them! I'm assuming my MIL had forgotten the pearls were even in the trunk - I don't think the trunk had been opened in a very long time!

In the same trunk, I found a medal for Bravery. The case it is in is only half there now, but the medal, ribbon and the actual medalion are in excellent condition. The medalion (round) has a raised crown on top and the words "Royal Canadian Humane Association" under the crown. On the back side is the engraving which reads " Awarded to Geo. A. Marcellus for presence of mind and courage in saving Albert Weagant from drowning at Williamsburg on Aug. 22, 1898." This was obviously presented to my ex's great-great-great grandfather.

sue

Sue -
There appears to be printing on the fabric the necklace is laying on - I can't read it in the photo - I even enlarged it - can you tell me what it is? Are there any other markings on the boxes?
Pat

Pat, I will look when I get home and post what the printing says.

Hi Pat! The stamped writing inside the box says Bluebird Pearls for Happiness. The front of the cardboard sleeve says "This Carton Contains a Necklace of Bluebird Pearls for Happiness". Written beside Quality is 115; nothing beside Length; nothing beside Clasp and Case says 30 New, Hew or HLW. That is all the information I have on this necklace. There is no company name as to where it was made or bought - I certainly wish it did!
Sue

Sue -
Too bad about the lack of markings! I ran a google search without much success - any chance your family came from England - or - spent time there during the War? The reason I ask is that 'bluebirds' were a favorite theme during the 30's and 40's - I do think the necklace is later than the 20's. I suspect the necklace has some value - one doesn't string junk jewelry on a sterling clasp. One thing you could do is take a photograph of the necklace and carry it with you - when you find yourself near some good jeweler's - or good vintage jewelry shops - whip out the pic and ask questions. Someone somewhere is bound to be able to help.

My 86 year old Aunt gave me a triple strand of Bluebird Pearls for Happiness (as it says on the box) last June 2006. She said that her late husband and my father (brothers) had given the pearls to their mother, who left them to my Aunt. I have looked at pictures of my grandmother wearing them and estimate that the pearls are from the 1940s.

My uncle was a Navy pilot in the Pacific during WWII and Daddy was in Italy. I am wondering if these pearls were made available to soldiers during the war for gifts. They may not be of value, but they have much sentimental value for me. I wore them them for the first time this year on Christmas day.
(excuse me if this is posted twice).

A brisk turn around the internet turns up a couple of newspaper ads from the 20s, someone selling an empty box, and a few ebay references. Bluebird Pearls for Happiness seems to have been a medium-priced jewelry line, popular for brides and sweet girl graduates. The company also sold pearl buttons. Cultured pearls were introduced in 1899, and became popular almost immdiately.

hello i have a 1923 cosmopolitan magazine and there is an add for Bluebird Pearls for Happiness and the picture is just as you discribed it box and all. and they were only available from the HENSHEL COMPANY jewelers from New York City..so i believe they could be early 20s even older.

I have one that has a certificate from 1923 and belonged to a relative of my late husband. It is a single strand of artificial pearls and is in the original box which is in one piece although somewhat scratched. I can find nothing on them either besides who originated these pearls - Henshel Company as listed above.

Pictures! Please someone who has this wonderful jewelry, show us! I know I don't have any :-(

I own a choker strand of these pearls that I purchased in the early 60's. They were sold to me as saltwater cultured pearls.

What a fun post! It has lived here for 16 years. I do hope that someone will post a pic of there pearls. Plus I hope the OP is still around!