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Quick answer. Mozeris Fine Antiques specialises in authentic Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian seed pearl jewellery, verifying natural pearls, period goldwork and original threading.
- Antique seed pearls are tiny natural pearls under 2 mm, never perfectly identical in shape.
- Georgian and early Victorian pieces are stitched with horsehair or silk onto carved mother-of-pearl frames.
- Later Victorian and Edwardian lockets, brooches and rings use half-seed pearls set in 15KT or 18KT gold.
- Never soak seed pearl jewellery in water or use ultrasonic cleaners, which weaken the threads and dull nacre.
Where to buy authentic seed pearl jewellery online
Authentic antique seed pearl necklaces, brooches and rings should come from a specialist antique jeweller who checks the pearls under magnification, inspects the reverse mother-of-pearl lattice and confirms whether any pearls have been replaced. Mozeris Fine Antiques curates genuine period pieces across our Victorian pearl jewellery, antique necklaces and Victorian jewellery collections.
For more detail on pearl biology and history, read the elegance of seed pearls. If you have inherited a seed pearl necklace, brooch or fitted parure to sell, send photographs via our sell antique jewellery page.
How to tell genuine antique seed pearls from imitations
- Subtle variation: natural seed pearls under 2 mm show slight differences in roundness, skin texture and soft cream-white orient; glass or plastic beads look uniformly spherical.
- Drilling and stitching: look at the reverse of a Georgian or early Victorian brooch for fine white horsehair or silk thread tied across mother-of-pearl backing plates.
- Half-pearl settings: on Victorian rings and lockets, jewellers often split seed pearls in half and set them flush into gold claw or scalloped channels.
- Original fitted boxes: leather cases lined in velvet and silk with a period retailer's address help confirm age and keep fragile links intact.
Sell to a specialist
Free valuation from your photographs. Paid the same day after inspection.
- Free insured FedEx collection
- Insured to £10,000
- No obligation
Caring for delicate seed pearl pieces
Natural nacre is porous and the old silk or horsehair threads are fragile. Dust lightly with a soft dry brush, keep pieces away from perfume, water and steam, and store them flat in a lined box. If a thread breaks, stop wearing the piece and have a specialist restorer re-stitch it.