Grey Biwa Pearls and Hematite Beads - Vintage Pearl Necklace from the 1980s

Here we offer you a charming pearl necklace from the 1980s that is suitable for everyday wear. This endlessly strung necklace has no clasp and measures 61 cm in length.

The combination of gray Biwa pearls and hematite beads is particularly stylish. The pearls shine with an extraordinary luster that can only be found in genuine Biwa pearls from Lake Biwa.

95 dark gray biwa beads

26 small hematite beads (3 mm)

7 large hematite beads (4 mm)

Total 50.5 ct stones/beads

Here is some information about Biwa pearls:

About 95% of the pearls that are advertised today as “Lake Biwa” pearls actually come from various lakes in China. Legally speaking, it is NOT a Biwa pearl if it does not originate from Lake Biwa.

Our necklace is made from vintage pearls that were cultivated in Lake Biwa according to the highest Japanese standards for pearls. Only these are genuine Lake Biwa pearls, very rare vintage pearls today. These pearls set the standard for the quality of mother-of-pearl pearls from the 1930s onwards. Due to the particularly good water quality at the time, breathtakingly beautiful freshwater cultured pearls with very unusual shapes and colors were created in Lake Biwa. To this day, the quality of these “old” Biwa pearls is still unrivaled.

Over-fishing and environmental pollution damaged the mussel stocks in the 1970s. Lake Biwa collapsed. In less than 50 years, Biwa pearl production declined due to the pollution of Lake Biwa until the lake no longer produced any pearls. Today you can only buy genuine Biwa pearls from old stocks. There are no new Biwa pearls. What are new pearls are cheap freshwater pearls from China.