Vintage RMN (Roman) Graduated Faux Pearl Strand Necklace — 1980s Hand-Knotted with Original Hang Tag

If you spent any time near a department-store jewelry counter in the 1980s, you probably handled something made by The Roman Company. Founded in St. Louis in 1953 by Melvin Roman, RMN grew into one of America's most widely distributed costume jewelry houses — pearls, brooches, matching sets, and Austrian crystal pieces sold through mall counters and department stores nationwide. This single strand is a clean example of what RMN did well. Graduated simulated pearls, white and cream with a soft luminous coating, rise from smaller beads near the clasp to a fuller center. Each bead is hand-knotted on cord — the same stringing method used on fine pearls, applied here to well-made costume work. It protects the beads from rubbing and lets the strand drape properly on the neck. The clasp is a silver-tone lobster claw with a little extender chain for flexible sizing. And here's the part that makes this one special: the original RMN hang tag is still attached and clearly legible. For anyone who collects American costume jewelry, that small paper tag is the difference between an unknown strand and a documented piece. Provenance: Purchased new by its original owner as a teenager in the 1980s — likely from a mall jewelry counter, exactly where RMN pieces were sold. Kept carefully all these years. Condition: Excellent. The pearl coating is bright and consistent across every bead, no chipping or dulling. Knots are tight and even. Clasp works smoothly with only the lightest age-toning on the hardware. No broken beads, no restringing, no repairs.