AboutBill and Sally Jarrett Expertise We are collectors, hobbyists and dealers in memorabilia and antiques - especially antique vintage and costume jewelry items. For 10 years we owned an antique shop here in Central Florida but retired and reopened a site on the internet that specializes mostly in antique jewelry and accessories such as perfume bottles, etc. Bill is informed on general antiques specializing in china and silver or sterling tablewares while Sally tends to jewelry and paper/advertising ephemera. We receive a lot of general questions from our site and would be glad to try and answer or give direction not considered for official appraisal purposes, i.e. estate or insurance.
Experience 10 years as antique shop owners
8 years as a jewelry designer supplying designs
to Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and MGM as well
well as other limited outlets.
Question I purchased a pearl choker with a rhinestone clasp. The pearls are quite heavy and creamy taupe in color. On the back of the rhinestone clasp is a mark with the letter "H" or maybe "M" in a diamond. I haven't been able to locate a manufacturer. Can you please help me to identify this maker? Thank you.
Answer Hello Sandra and thank you for your inquiry. It would be difficult to tell much about this mark without an actual picture or hands-on examination. There are too many variables - is the diamond shape vertical or sideways ? H or M ? type of lettering ? age of item; genuine pearls ? All of these things could help in the id of a possible manufacturer/designer. I can recommend a book you might check out - possibly in your local library - American Jewelry Manufacturers by Schiffer. It contains many visuals and marks and you might be able to match up with your mark. Just a note - the initial on the clasp may be that of the clasp only. A lot of pearl necklaces, especialy genuine pearls, have hang tags or other method to identify the type of pearls or necklace designer i.e. paper tag, box, etc.
Sorry I couldn't help you with this identification.
