Vintage 1960s Japanese Sterling Silver & Iridescent Biwa Pearl Suite

A stunning and highly distinctive matched jewellery suite from the 1960s, consisting of a substantial silver bracelet and a matching cluster ring. Both pieces showcase the rare beauty of authentic, peacock-colored iridescent Biwa pearls. The striking bracelet features large, uniquely shaped Biwa pearls displaying a magnificent peacock lustre, elegantly contrasted by small, round freshwater pearls. The piece secures with an ornate T-bar toggle clasp featuring applied filigree work and set with two additional freshwater pearls. The T-bar can be inserted into either of the two decorative silver rings, providing convenient size adjustment. The matching silver ring mirrors this dramatic design with a large peacock Biwa pearl accompanied by two freshwater pearls—one of which is a rare black variant. The cluster is beautifully anchored by a large, luminous moonstone that catches the light wonderfully. Mirroring the thoughtful engineering of the era, the ring's shank was originally crafted with an adjustable, bypass design, allowing it to be resized comfortably. The ring is stamped 925 for Sterling silver. The bracelet is unmarked but has been fully tested and verified as silver, a characteristic typical of the local mid-century artisans crafting jewellery directly around Lake Biwa in Japan, where these historic pearls originate. • Origin: Lake Biwa, Japan • Period: Mid-Century Modern, circa 1960 • Materials: Sterling Silver (Tested), Iridescent Biwa Pearls, Freshwater Pearls, and Moonstone Biwa pearls are unique freshwater cultured pearls originally grown in Lake Biwa, Japan. They are famous for their distinct elongated, stick-like, or irregular baroque shapes and high lustre. Genuine pearls from Lake Biwa are extremely rare today due to historic water pollution, but the name is still widely used to describe similar elongated freshwater pearls farmed elsewhere.