Shell Earrings Vintage 1940s Abalone Hearts

Price $30

"These vintage sea shell earrings are not your average Abalone shells. The earrings date from the 1940s and the shells are carved in shapes of hearts. The custom made screw back portions are also sterling silver, and are signed Sterling.I will tell you something very important about collecting vintage Abalone jewelry. Older Abalone shell specimens are much different in character than newer Abalone jewelry. When the patterns and colors in this shell form, they start out as rather large patterns and the colors are muted. As the shell gets larger, much larger, the designs become like tiny mosaics and the colors grow into brilliant pastels with superior metallic like sparkle shine. You don't often see colors of hot pink and orange in small Abalone shells like you see in these earrings. Years ago, when Abalone shells were abundant and very large in size ( like over 10"" long), jewelry made from these older specimens is apparent to the trained eye. Newer specimens are from much smaller shells, unusually in the 3-5"" range, as large shells are rare to find today, and the whole shell is typically sold as a specimen shell, and not made into jewelry. These earrings are sterling silver screw backs and the hearts are very thick, hand carved, and measure about 1"" wide. The shells are perfect specimens with no chips, cracks, or repairs. Most certainly Japanese made, and most likely before WWII. "