How to Identify Real or Fake Pearls

 

A cultured pearl is not an artificial or synthetic pearl. It is still produced by a pearl oyster or mollusk and by normal processes of pearl growth. The only difference between the natural pearl and the cultured variety is that the nucleus has been inserted into the oyster to enable the pearl to have a good start. It ensures a larger and more evenly shaped pearl and is produced in a shorter period of time. Natural pearls (see below) are extremely rare and expensive.

Imitation Pearls: Imitation pearls are made from glass, plastic or shell beads which are then coated. They are usually obvious in their extremely uniform shape and color. Pearl vendors are more than happy to prove to you that their pearls are real by using a scraping test. See "Avoiding Fakes" below.

Avoiding Fakes: Telling the difference between imitation pearls and the real ones is quite simple: the tooth test! When you rub a real pearl - natural or cultured - across your teeth, the pearl will feel slightly gritty. Do the same with a fake and it's likely to feel smooth and slippery. If you're still having trouble deciding whether it's real, ask the vendor to scrape the pearl with a knife. Powder will result in scraping a real pearl, a white plastic bead will be revealed from a fake pearl.

Here are a few guidelines and tests that may help you figure out whether your pearls are genuine meaning cultured or natural. Experts suggest using a number of these tests on your pearls to best help in ruling out the possibility of fakes. No one assessment is fool proof, and certain tests are less successful with unusual types of pearls.

Tooth Test:Rub the pearls lightly across upper front teeth. Real Pearls should feel gritty or sandy Fake Pearls will feel smooth

Magnification: Examine the surface of the pearls with a magnifying glass.- see note - Real Pearls should appears unusually fine-grained Fake Pearls may appear grainy

Drill a hole in the Pearls: The examine the hole with a magnifying glass.- see note - The edges of the hole in Real Pearls are smooth and sharp The holes in Fake Pearls may may appear bumpy or ragged

Weight:Bounce the pearls in your hand.- see note - Real Pearls feels heavy to hold Fake Pearls should feels unusually light (unless they are solid glass beads)

Flaws: Examine thepearls for flaws and blemishes. Most Real Pearls will have at least minimal flaws If they appear absolutely flawless they are most likely Fake Pearls

Price: Compare the price to similar pearls from other dealers Real Pearls have reasonable or comparative price A Fake Pearls price is unbelievably low or discounted

NOTE: Swarovski Prides itself in its ability to fool Mother Nature. Each Swarovski Crystal Pearl is created around a crystal core, hence the name Crystal Pearl. The pearl coating developed by Swarovski is applied around the crystal core in pearly layers.

The high specific gravity of a raw pearl made of crystal gives the Swarovski Crystal Pearl the same weight as a cultured pearl. A Swarovski Crystal Pearl feels good to the touch and as a piece of jewelry, it offers that sensual experience valued by pearl enthusiasts.