How can you tell real pearls from fake?

An easy way to determine whether a pearl is real is to look at the surface; authentic pearls will have some slight irregularities and bumps that make them unique. For example, if you rub the pearl against your teeth, a real one will feel gritty, while a fake one will feel smooth.

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How do you tell the difference between real pearls and fake pearls?

An authentic pearl displays fluoresce under ultraviolet light because of the presence of natural organic compounds in its nacre. On the other hand, fake pearls are typically made out of glass or plastic and don't contain these natural organic compounds. As a result, they won't display fluoresce under UV light.

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How do I know if my pearls are worth anything?

The qualities that determine the overall value of a natural or cultured pearl or a piece of pearl jewelry are size, shape, color, luster, surface quality, nacre quality, and—for jewelry with two or more pearls—matching.

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Are fake pearls noticeable?

Fake pearls only shine on their surface and their luster has no depth. Uniformity: A fake pearl necklace, for example, will have pearls that are all the same size and perfectly spherical. In addition, they won't have any blemishes or imperfections when examined very closely.

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Are real pearls cold to the touch?

Real pearls are cold to touch for the first couple of seconds before adjusting to your body temperature. Fake plastic pearls will be room temperature to begin with and you won't feel the coolness when you touch them.

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How to Spot Real & Fake Pearls

34 related questions found

Do old pearls have any value?

It's often assumed that because something's old it must be valuable. That's rarely true and certainly not for pearls. Advances in technology and culturing techniques mean you can buy a much better set of pearls for far less money than in grandma's time.

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What Colour pearl is most valuable?

The lip determines the pearl color. While the white pearls are also priced by jewelers, the gold pearl variety is the most coveted color. The gold South sea pearl's color can range from creamy white to deep gold, and the darker the color, the more expensive it becomes.

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What color of pearls are most rare?

Gold Pearls

One of the largest and rarest pearls found around the world is Gold in color. They are Golden South Sea pearls, cultured in the Philippine Islands. Golden South Sea pearls have only been available to pearl lovers since the late 1970s, and are known as the “Rolls Royce” of cultured pearls.

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Do real pearls turn yellow?

Why does it happen? Pearl jewelry usually turns yellow as time passes because they dry out. If there is no air circulation and moisture where pearls are kept, their organic composition begins to change, which results in that yellowing.

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Are real pearls shiny or dull?

Genuine pearls are shinier than fake pearls. You can measure shine in luster, which is the intensity and softness of a pearl's surface, it generally has to do with how bright and clear a pearl looks. Natural pearls have more shine than artificial ones because they're made from natural materials.

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Are real pearls heavy or light?

Real pearls are heavy compared to most fakes. They should feel like they have some weight to them, compared to a hollow plastic bead. The surface will feel gritty. Gently rub two pearls in a strand together.

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How do you test pearls with vinegar?

To try it for yourself, put a drop of vinegar on the pearl or submerge the pearl in a small cup of vinegar. If you can see bubbles forming from the release of carbon dioxide in the chemical reaction, your pearls are authentic.

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What does original pearl look like?

A real pearl almost always has a clear outer nacre layer, while fake pearls have thin layers of artificial nacre or lack them entirely. If your pearl has a drill hole, you can check for nacre by peering in with a magnifying glass.

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How can you tell if a pearl is a South Sea pearl?

South Sea pearls are generally much larger than other pearl types and have a unique luster quality – a soft reflection due to the large aragonite platelets that make up the pearl. They also have the thickest average nacre of all cultured pearls. These factors make South Seas both distinctive and valuable.

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Can real pearls be scratched?

The surface of a pearl is soft and is easily damaged. Pearls set in rings and bracelets are more subject to scuffing and scratching than pearls set in brooches, earrings, necklaces or strands.

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Which type of pearl is more expensive?

South Sea pearls are often referred to as the Rolls Royce of pearls. They are the largest and most valuable pearls grown today, with average sizes ranging from 10 to 15 millimeters. South Sea pearls grow in a large pearl oyster native to Australia, the Philippines, Myanmar and Indonesia.

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What is the original color of a pearl?

The color pearl is a pale tint of off-white.

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What color should real pearls be?

Perhaps the best-loved gems of all time, pearls—both natural and modern cultured pearls—occur in a wide variety of colors. The most familiar colors are white and cream (a light yellowish brown). Black, gray, and silver are also fairly common, but the palette of pearl colors extends to every hue.

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What does a high quality pearl look like?

The luster of good quality pearls is sharp and bright. You should be able to see your reflection clearly on the surface of a pearl. Any pearl that appears too white, dull or chalky, is of low quality.

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What is the prettiest pearl?

White and Golden South Sea pearls are the largest and most luxurious of all cultured pearl types on the market today. Often called the “Queen of Pearls”, South Sea pearls feature a gorgeous palette of natural Golden and White colors that shimmer with delicate overtones and are simply unmistakable.

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What grade of pearl is best?

This grading system ranks pearls from AAA to A, with AAA being the highest.
  • AAA: Nearly flawless pearls with a high luster and a surface that's 95 percent free of defects.
  • AA: High luster with a surface that's 75 percent free of defects.
  • A: Lower luster and defects on more than 25 percent of the surface.

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Do real pearls deteriorate over time?

Pearls contain organic substance, which can dry out and decay, which is why pearls have their certain life span, after which pearls start to grow dim, exfoliate and are finally destructed. This means special attention is required to ensure pearls will stay beautiful and last for hundreds of years.

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How long do real pearls last?

Worn often and properly cared for, pearls can look as good in 50 years as they did the day they left the store. Pearls are not the most durable of gems. Most everyday items at home and in the office are tougher than pearls, so careless contact can cause damage them over time.

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Why are some pearls so cheap?

Freshwater pearls are cheaper because they are easier to extract, making sea pearls more valued. Why? Sea pearls are larger, more beautiful in shape, luster, smoother surface and, of course, much more expensive than freshwater pearls.

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