Like so many of us bead lovers, I've learned the hard way that it's difficult to find comparable fine (faceted) antique amber beads at an online auction site like EBay because it's all but impossible to figure out true quality and condition from a digital photo or the seller's descriptive opinion. Your decision to make inquiry with a gemologist at a jewelry store is excellent.. He'll probably reaffirm your decision to carefully clean and enjoy your beads and possibly offer a good price to professionally restore their luster and the knotted strand itself. Old Amber, coral and ivory beads are like fine gemstones or natural pearls... They just have a certain patina and feel that can't be duplicated. I'm sure that to an artist like yourself this strand will become a treasure!