Important Note: This piece is part of our newly sourced London collection. Shipping timeline is 10-12 days. We offer free shipping and no customs charges within India. For international shipping, please write to us.
 
The Legacy Collection - Rare vintage jewels, handpicked to be treasured for generations.
 
 
“Muse in Coral & Moonlight”
Moonlight at the throat, a flame at the heart.
For the collector who understands that the rarest luxury is taste.
 
42 cm Akoya Pearl Necklace with 1940s Coral-Glass Cameo Pendant (6.5 × 4.5 cm) — Reconstructed One-of-One
 
There are pieces you wear, and pieces that complete you.
This necklace is the latter: a ribbon of real Japanese Akoya cultured pearls that settles on the collarbones like moonlight, finished with a dramatic 1940s coral-glass cameo haloed in luminous pearls. It feels old-world, intimate, and unmistakably couture—made for the collector whose taste is singular rather than loud.
The Pearls — Akoya, with that tell-tale blue whisper
 
The necklace strand is composed of near-round Akoya cultured pearls displaying the classic, cool bluish overtone and high, mirror-like lustre that connoisseurs prize. Each pearl is individually knotted for drape and security, so the strand falls in a graceful V that draws the eye to the heart line.
Type: Cultured Akoya (Japan), strand only
Hue/Overtone: Cream-white with a subtle blue/silver tinge (a hallmark Akoya overtone)
Surface: Clean to lightly pin-pricked under close view; glowing in wear
Approx. size of strand pearls: ~3–3.5 mm (visual estimate)
Drape: 42 cm total length; sits elegantly at the base of the neck
 
Why Akoya matters: among salt-water pearls, Akoya are renowned for their refined roundness, sharp lustre and that cool, silvery aura that reads old-money at a glance. They style up or down without effort—cashmere by day, silk by night.
The Pendant — a 1940s jewel of art glass and theatre
Suspended from a gold-tone bail, the pendant is a 1940s coral-glass cameo: a richly carved face in a deep Mediterranean coral tone, framed by a halo of imitation pearls that amplify the drama.
Center: Hand-moulded/pressed coral-glass cameo, 1940s
How we know it’s glass (and why that’s desirable): the hue is perfectly even; the carving shows crisp edges with a soft inner translucency; it remains cool to the touch and exhibits a gentle glassy sheen rather than the fibrous, matte glow of organic coral. Under light, the colour holds steady (true coral often reveals subtle banding or natural “growth” features).
Value, even as glass: High-grade mid-century art glass is a collectible category in its own right—celebrated for saturated colour, permanence, and sculptural detail. It delivers the look and theatre of precious coral while being more wearable and far more resilient for regular use.
Pearl halo: high-lustre imitation pearls chosen to echo the Akoya glow and enlarge the pendant’s presence
Pendant size: 6.5 cm × 4.5 cm
Construction: the pendant was married to the Akoya strand in a sensitive later reconstruction, creating a unique composition that honours both elements.
 
Clasp & Finish
A decorative gold-tone, finely etched clasp closes with a sure, satisfying click—small, considered, and consistent with the strand’s mid-century refinement. Every detail, from tight knotting to aligned spacing and clean findings, speaks to careful hands and a collector’s eye.
Who she is
The woman who chooses this piece collects moments. She prefers glow to glare, provenance to logos, and stories to trends. She is a patron of beautiful contradictions—salt-water Akoya purity meeting theatre of 1940s glass—and understands that true luxury can be both rare and wearable.
 
Why collectors lean in
Hybrid allure: authentic Akoya strand + 1940s coral-glass cameo = a singular, curated jewel rather than a catalogue model.
Condition & craftsmanship: tight knotting, crisp cameo, luminous surfaces—built to be worn, not worried over.
One-of-one styling: the later marriage gives exclusivity; there isn’t another identical piece in circulation.
Investment in aesthetics: mid-century art glass and fine Akoya retain enduring desirability among vintage connoisseurs.
Styling notes
Let it command a black column dress or bateau-neck knit (Audrey-meets-opera).
Layer with a delicate yellow-gold chain worn slightly shorter for a modern tiered moment.
Frame with soft ivory, coral, or camel to echo its palette; finish with a coral-tint lip.
For day: a crisp white shirt, high-waist trousers, hair swept back. For night: silk, low light, and this pendant at centre stage.
 
Collector’s Tip: How to Identify Real vs Imitation Pearls
A quick and reliable way to tell real pearls from imitation is the “tooth test.”
Gently rub a pearl against the edge of your front teeth — real pearls will feel slightly gritty or sandy due to their natural layers of nacre, while imitation pearls feel smooth, glassy, or plastic-like.
 
Real pearls have a soft, organic glow rather than a flawless, factory-perfect finish. They feel cool to the touch when first picked up and gently warm against the skin. For their size, they carry a reassuring weight and never feel overly light or hollow.
 
Around the drill hole, you’ll notice clean, smooth edges with visible layers of nacre — a sign of genuine growth over time.
Most importantly, their lustre is deep and multi-dimensional, as if the light is coming from within rather than simply shining on the surface.
 
Specifications (at a glance)
Era: Strand c.1940s; pendant c.1940s; later reconstructed together
Length: 42 cm
Pendant: 6.5 cm × 4.5 cm
Strand pearls: Japanese Akoya cultured pearls (~3–3.5 mm, visual estimate)
Pendant halo: luminous imitation pearls
Center: 1940s coral-glass cameo in Mediterranean coral tone
Clasp: decorative gold-tone, etched; strand fully knotted
Condition: In excellent vintage condition. No defect or damage. Please see close up video for quality assurance. 
Sourced from a coveted vintage fair in London, England.