What we have is Gandalf's 'informed guess', to which we can attribute whatever probability we like, and the following quote from HoME X, chapter VI, the earlier Quenta Silmarillion, that goes in the same direction:
"And other crystals he [Fëanor] made, wherein things far away could be seen small but clear, as with the eyes of the Eagles of Manwë."
CJRT himself linked this sentence to Gandalf's suspicion about the palantíri.
Since this is mentioned along with the other crystals and gems first found (and enhanced and created by the craftmanship of the Noldor), they would have been before the silmarilli.
[ March 18, 2002: Message edited by: Sharku ]
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