A real pearl necklace will have depth and variation to the color. It will include a body color and an overtone color. Often displaying different colors in different lighting conditions.
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.
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.
A real pearl necklace can cost anywhere from $150 to $10,000+ or even more for exceptional examples. Affordable Freshwater necklaces can go as low as $150, while a classic Akoya necklace will cost anywhere from $250 to $5000+. For more information, read how Freshwater pearls compare to Akoyas. $130 - $5,000 or more.
How Much Are Real Pearls Worth? A traditional strand of white pearls can range from $100 (Freshwater pearl necklace) to $10,000 (Akoya pearl necklace). A strand of large, flawless South Sea pearls could even be valued as high as $100,000+ .
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.
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.
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.
Real pearls will be individually knotted. This means there is a tiny knot between every pearl. The knots prevent each pearl from rubbing against another and protect against loss if your strand breaks. However, high-end fake pearl strands are often knotted between each “pearl”.
Both natural and cultured pearls have textured surface due to their layered nacre structure. So when you rub the pearls lightly against each other or on your front teeth, they feel a little gritty. Fake or imitation pearls, however, usually feel smooth or glassy.
Pearl necklaces and bracelets wear out over time. The string loosens up and eventually breaks – no matter the material used. In fact we recommend restringing your pearls every 1-2 years to avoid accidental breakage and consequent loss of pearls.
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.
Additionally, use a magnifying glass to inspect the holes of the pearls and the metal clasp holding them together. Real pearls have small holes, while fake ones have larger holes and imperfections in the metal clasp.
Natural pearls grow in the wild without human intervention. They are very rare, and most natural pearls in the market today are antique. Cultured pearls are grown in pearl farms, and are the direct result of human intervention.
The combination of surface brilliance and a deep-seated glow, the luster of a good-quality cultured pearl should be bright, not dull. You should be able to see your reflection clearly on the surface of a cultured pearl. Any pearl that looks too chalky or dull indicates low quality.
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.
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.
An easy and old method to identify a real pearl is to use the “tooth-test.” Put the pearls up against your mouth and rub the pearls over the bottom edge of your tooth. A real pearl will have a light grit to it. A pearl made of plastic or glass will feel smooth.
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.
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.
In general, there're 7 factors that affect the pearl value: shape, size, colour, lustre, surface quality, nacre quality and matching. Like the 4Cs of diamond valuation, the pearl's 7 value factors are created by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) to standardise pearl grading systems.
Pearl prices can range from less than $1 to $100,000s- depending on the type, size, quality, luster, color and shape.