I recently bought this lovely coral necklace with the familiar FP Sterling hallmark. From what I see on the Spatania website, the design was originally made by Frank Senior and named after his wife Aurora. They currently offer all silver versions as special order.
It is more dainty than I was expecting but I believe jewelry from the 40-50’s era was smaller in scale. It weighs 34 grams, is 18” (can be shorter) and as best I can measure with a tape the beads are about 4 tenths of a centimeter. (The battery died in my calipers). I am hoping you will be able to help me determine if it is original, a reproduction or ?.
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This is soooo beautiful!!
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@Islandmomma That’s a very pretty necklace and it looks so nice on you. I really like red coral (Mediterranean) but don’t own much of it at all. Sorry, I can’t help with your questions. I’m familiar with the name Frank Patania but, I really don’t know anything about his jewelry.
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Beautiful necklace! Enjoy it 
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It’s very pretty and in the vein of their work. This FP hallmark is a bit confusing to me. Both Sr. and Jr. have a differently shaped foot (the very base of each letter) compared to here, and their P that adjoins the F is more flattened at the top vs. rounded. Maybe it’s a photograph situation, I can’t tell.
What I suggest is that you contact Sam Patania, the son of Jr., who’s active as a jeweler and does give an opinion on authenticity.
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I have messaged Sam but have not heard back yet. This is what I found on their website.
The first is the new all silver that they are offering. The second is an article about the hallmarks. I believe the earliest version did not include the cartouche. Simply the FP.
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Another resource if you want authentication is Kim Messier, who recently (with her mom Pat) published the book on Patania jewelry. She is gracious about giving an opinion as well.
The cartouche thing is not going to help date it or authenticate it. Frank Jr’s hallmark, for example, wasn’t in a cartouche on his jewelry in the 1990s-2000, of which I had two pieces (now only one).
Best to get it in front of the right eyes, really.
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I didn’t mean to just post that and stop. I remembered that the shower was running. 
Yes I had Pat and Kim’s book out the other day. It’s a great book and I finished the last part that I hadn’t read. I see Kim on FB occasionally and started to send her a message the other day but it was Sunday so I decided to wait. I’ve also tried researching for any information about their jewelry being faked but so far haven’t found anything. I also wondered about the hallmark but the photos were not so good and there were multiple people in line waiting to purchase so I didn’t even try to get more pictures. I just took a chance. Even if it turns out to not be their work, I don’t have a lot of money invested. The coral looks good and the necklace is pretty so I won’t be devastated but I will be sad. I think I will try to contact Kim next. Thanks for everyone’s help.
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I’m back lol. I remembered that I was comparing my existing jewelry with the necklace. The Shattuckite pin has a hallmark that looks like the necklace while the matching cuff has a regular looking FP.
Your opinions please. Thanks
I got an answer to my email to Sam Patania. Michelle, this is one of our necklaces. The hallmark configuration tells me that I personally made it when I was an apprentice to my father, Frank Junior.
My grandfather, Frenck Patania Senior, designed this necklace, and the other sizes of this design we still make, almost 100 years ago! It is an enduring, classical design.
We usually use 5 mm or 6mm beads between the tube beads we make, although many variations have been made over the decades.
The coral I used in this necklace was purchased by my grandfather in Torre del Greco, Italy, in the 1950s when he and my grandmother, Aurora, visited their home country.
I hope this helps, and you enjoy the necklace.
Sam
1830 E. Broadway, Ste. 124-204
Tucson, AZ 85719
520-422-7573
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@Islandmomma Woo-Hoo! Congrats! Glad you received such a quick response from this gentleman.
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Fantastic! I was pretty sure it was legit and am happy for your confirmation! It’s a beauty, enjoy! 
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Thanks I’m trying not to jump up and down. The quality of the necklace just made me feel like it was right, but I couldn’t prove it because I only own pins and cuff bracelets.
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Thank you very much for pushing me to get confirmation. Now we know the age also since Sam did it himself. The quality was what was making me think that it was definitely real. I am a very happy camper right now!
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case closed on a high note!
the clash of the FP stamp into the sterling stamp made me think something was a little off from other examples found out on the net.
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I think it had us all wondering so now that it’s confirmed I’m one very happy woman! 
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That’s wonderful news @Islandmomma !
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Thank you. It’s like having Christmas in May!
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