Pearls

Modern pearl necklace but the pearls are a slightly odd shape? Some have flaws. Is there a name for these pear shaped ones?. Clasp is 375.
Quite weighty and with a lovely lustre but how else do I judge what type they are?
Hallmarked with an A ( or triangle) a P( 1989?)
375, DML D JKa
Thankyou

 

Just call them baroque, I think they are cultivated freshwater, but with a nice luster, comparable to salt water ones

 

Ah, good word baroque. Now I've entered that as a search term lots have popped up. Thankyou

 

Lovely necklace. There are fancy names for the different baroque pearl shapes, but I usually stick to baroque as well.

Not sure those are UK marks though, maybe Asian? The marks are different from the usual UK gold marks, like these:

 

Agree, not UK hallmarks. Think JKa is definitely an Asian maker. I think I’ve got another piece from the same maker. Whether the necklace is constructed in the same place as the clasp is manufactured I don’t know.

 

Very likely, and my money is on China. China manufactures a huge amount of jewellery findings. Most cultivated freshwater pearls are Chinese, so are most pearl necklace makers.

 

Ok,Germany!. Wasn't expecting that!.
https://www.jewellerynet.com/en/directory/supplier/jkoehlegmbh

 

You genius!

Neither was I, but maybe they actually manufacture in Hong Kong now, or is that really a trade fair:
Founded in 1872, leading German based manufacturer in clasps for cultured pearls, wedding bands (brand KÜHNEL) and pearl jewellery .
Fair in Hong Kong (Sept. AWE - 1 Q33; March: Wanchai, German Section).

 

Haha, that title is strictly reserved for INH,

 

Is there a definitive way of knowing if pearls are seawater or freshwater?

 

Apart from cutting them in half, the only way is to take an x-ray of the pearl. But these are most likely cultivated freshwater.

 

You can candle a pearl to see if there is a nucleus inside.
Cultured freshwater pearls are grafted with a piece of mussel tissue, when cultured salt water pearls have a bead inside!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultured_freshwater_pearls
A strong torch through a hole in a black cardboard, put a pearl on it and observe in a dark room what can be seen inside.
I use for that my smartphone torch app, so it sits flat
See there:
https://www.pearl-guide.com/forum/showthread.php?12078-Candling-pearl-questions

 

Awesome!. I’ll have a go. I’ve got lots of pearls. Sounds almost as much fun as the UV light!. Think my OHs going to worry about me sitting in dark rooms so much

 

Lots of funny ways to test/taste jewellery!
Don't worry my OH thinks too I behave bizarre!

 

So what does this tell me?
All the gear and no idea!
Edit- having googled more I think I need a more concentrated light source as too much is coming around the pearl.
Still don't know what I'm actually looking for though!

 

The attached photo is of a different set of pearls. That line isn’t visible with the naked eye.

 

Difficult to explain... and you're right, the light need to be very concentrated! A pin hole in the cardboard is efficient. For what to look out, I encourage you to go through the many pics in the site pearl-guide