AI Appraisal Estimate

A well-constructed beaded necklace featuring round, polished gemstones that exhibit the characteristic chatoyancy of Tiger's Eye. The necklace is unique for its use of mixed stones, primarily highlighting Blue Tiger's Eye (also known as Falcon's Eye) with significant bands of golden-yellow and brown typical of traditional Tiger's Eye. The beads measure approximately 8mm to 10mm in diameter and are individually knotted on a dark blue silk or nylon cord, a high-quality finishing technique that prevents the beads from rubbing against one another and ensures the security of the piece if the cord were to break. Each bead displays natural variation, with some appearing almost entirely dark blue-black while others show vibrant amber banding. The necklace is secured with a modern gold-plated or gold-filled lobster claw clasp and jump ring. The overall condition appears excellent, with no visible chips to the stone surfaces or fraying to the knots. The style is contemporary to late 20th century, focused on the natural beauty of semi-precious quartz gemstones. A small white string tag is attached, common for retail or inventory purposes, indicating it may be for sale or cataloged.

I have virtually examined this knotted bead necklace featuring a mix of Blue Tiger's Eye (Falcon's Eye) and traditional Golden Tiger's Eye. The 8mm-10mm beads exhibit excellent chatoyancy and polish, with individual knotting suggesting a higher standard of craftsmanship than mass-produced costume jewelry. The use of a gold-plated lobster clasp indicates a contemporary commercial origin rather than a bespoke fine jewelry piece. The condition appears excellent with no visible fraying or stone damage. Market demand for semi-precious quartz remains steady, particularly for 'mixed' stones that highlight natural mineral variation. While Tiger's Eye is relatively abundant, the presence of Falcon's Eye adds a slight premium. Comparables for professionally knotted semi-precious necklaces of this length and bead size typically fall within the $100 to $200 range at retail galleries. Limitations: This appraisal is based solely on visual inspection. Without a physical examination, I cannot verify the material of the clasp (potential solid gold vs. plating), the authenticity of the silk cord, or confirm if the stones have undergone any dyeing or heat treatment to enhance the blue hues. A full authentication would require a streak test or refractive index measurement to confirm the quartz species and a touch-test to verify the temperature and density of the beads. Provenance or an original purchase receipt would further solidify the valuation.