{"product_id":"antique-victorian-graduated-seed-pearl-choker","title":"Antique Victorian Graduated Seed Pearl Choker","description":"\u003cp\u003eBefore Kokichi Mikimoto perfected his techniques for creating cultured pearls in the late 1890s, every single pearl was a spontaneous creation, happening very rarely and entirely by chance (and being harvested under extremely dangerous conditions by pearl divers). This meant that pearls were possibly the most valuable gems in the world, representing the pinnacle of wealth and luxury. This ethereal, dainty, feminine strand of seed pearls dates back to this time- entirely spontaneous, wild pearls created by mollusks without any human intervention. Perhaps most surprisingly, this strand is graduated, with larger pearls in the center tapering off to absolutely tiny pearls at the ends (from just about 2.5 mm in the center to 1 mm at the ends). While graduating the size of larger pearls was very common, as it was much easier to match pearls in varying sizes than to acquire a strand's worth of the same size, I have never come across another Victorian era seed pearl necklace with graduated pearls. This represents a level of labor that is not usually present in seed pearl strands of this era, hinting that this was a necklace of considerable luxury and cost compared to other examples. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis necklace is a shorter length, measuring 15 inches long, and has been professionally restrung on historically accurate silk cord, with new French\/boullion wire, on its original 9k rose gold barrel clasp. The pearls are in excellent condition, with beautiful luster and orient, and no signs of drying, flaking or cracking. The clasp is stamped 9ct on one loop, and has two small dents. It closes securely. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Moon Honey","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47179118739629,"sku":null,"price":920.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0701\/6978\/8589\/files\/rn-image_picker_lib_temp_45233114-9c3b-4a6b-b83d-44d5bd9cff2e.jpg?v=1786118537","url":"https:\/\/shopmoonhoney.com\/products\/antique-victorian-graduated-seed-pearl-choker","provider":"Moon Honey","version":"1.0","type":"link"}