Buying pearls may seem like an easy task but it is not, but differentiating between fake pearls and real pearls will make all the difference. Not only because these are very valuable gems, but also because today there are a considerable number of very good looking synthetic pearls that closely resemble real pearls and are marketed as such.
So before moving on to practical tips you can use anywhere to tell if a pearl is fake or real, it’s important to understand the fundamental difference between the two.
What are real pearls?
A true pearl is produced by oysters that contain pearls, either in fresh or salt water. Depending on whether or not it is human aid, these organically sourced gems may be man-made or naturally mined.
It is worth noting that almost all pearls on the market today are cultured. This is because natural pearls formed without human intervention are extremely rare and not commercially viable. Therefore, there are generally not many natural pearls in the world of jewelry.
How are pearls formed?
Many people know that pearls form inside oysters, but few know how and why they develop. The process begins when a foreign substance finds its way into the oyster and irritates the mantle, which is the part of the oyster that produces its shell. The oyster immediately tries to protect itself from the foreign substance by covering it in layers upon layers of nacre. Therefore, a pearl is simply a foreign substance that is covered by multiple layers of nacre.
Cultured vs Natural Pearls
Real pearls are classified as cultured or natural. Both types of pearls grow in the same way inside oysters. However, natural pearls are those that are found growing naturally in nature without the help of humans.
On the other hand, a cultured pearl is grown on a pearl farm with human intervention. On these farms, the mollusks are farmed until they are developed enough to grow pearls. A technician will then surgically implant a pearl and place the mollusk in the water to allow the pearl formation process to begin.
Most natural pearls have been harvested, so it is rare to see them sold in retailers today. If you find a natural pearl, be prepared to pay a premium price for it.
If you are interested in buying pearl jewelry, it is important to know if a pearl is genuine or not. Here’s how to tell the difference between real pearls and fake pearls:
Methods to differentiate between real pearls and fake pearls
Although real and fake pearls share some similarities, it is possible to differentiate them by taking into account the following criteria.
size and symmetry
Fake pearls will all look exactly the same, while real pearls will have slight variations in size and symmetry. This is because real pearls form in nature, so some blemishes are normal. However, high-quality pearls only have slight blemishes, so they can be difficult to spot.
shineeither
The shine, or luster, of a pearl is what makes it so unique. Real pearls have a brilliant sheen, so they should shine clearly when exposed to light. If the pearl has no shine, it is fake.
But this is not the best test to determine if a pearl is authentic. Some fake pearls are designed to look just as shiny as real pearls. Fake shiny pearls often have a cloudy shine, while real pearls have a clear shine. However, it is difficult for the untrained eye to distinguish between the two.
Weight
Hold the pearls in your hand to feel their weight. Fake pearls are usually lightweight, so you shouldn’t feel a significant amount of weight in your hand. However, real pearls do have a bit of weight to them, so if they feel heavier than you expected, they are most likely real.
EITHERorifice drilling
A hole must be drilled in each pearl to create certain pieces of jewelry, such as necklaces. Closely examine the pearls in question to look for the hole. If the pearl is real, there should be a ring around the hole. If there is no ring around the piercing hole, the pearl is likely a fake. You can double check by looking at the edges of the hole. Real pearls will have clean, well-defined edges, while fake pearls often have rough edges.
You may also notice peeling paint around the hole of a fake pearl. This occurs when the fake pearls start to rub against each other and wear away the paint that is used to make these pearls look real.
The bite test
The final step in determining whether a pearl is real or fake is to perform the bite test. Place the pearl between your upper and lower teeth and gently bite down on it. You also have the option of gently rubbing the pearl against the outside of your teeth. Either way, pay attention to how it feels when the pearl makes contact with your teeth. The surface of real pearls is made of mother-of-pearl, which has a gritty feel. So if it feels like sandpaper is rubbing against your teeth, it means the pearl is real.
Temperature
Hold the pearls in your hand so you can easily feel their temperature. Fake pearls will generally stay at room temperature, while real pearls will not. A real pearl should feel a little cool to the touch at first, and slowly begin to warm up when held in your hand.
As you can see, there are many ways to quickly tell if a pearl is real or fake. But, if you’re shopping for pearl jewelry, you’ll need to learn a lot more about pearls before you make a purchase.