How to spot fake pearls
Pearls are some of nature’s most valuable gifts. Because of their fascinating look, they’re highly sought after—so much so that some businesses create fake ones and even deceive buyers just for profit.
Before we can begin to discuss how to tell apart a fake from a real pearl, you need to have a background of what a pearl is and some of its most common types that can be found in the market today. Read on below to discover more about these lustrous gems!
What are pearls?
Pearls are hard, iridescent gems that are formed inside living molluscs such as oysters, clams and abalones.
The process starts when an irritant is trapped inside the shelled animal. It can be anything from a rock fragment to a parasite. As a defence mechanism, the mollusc will secrete a crystalline substance known as ‘nacre’ to reduce irritation.
As the irritant is continuously coated in nacre, it will create layer upon layer of the substance, eventually producing a smooth, luminous precious gemstone.
Pearls can come in a range of colours—the most common being white and cream. These gems are also found in a variety of shapes and sizes, though larger, spherical ones are highly favoured.
Because of their delicate and feminine appeal, they are often worn as bridal jewellery. Their beautiful glow is the perfect match to a white wedding gown!
Types of pearls
The easiest way to identify a fake pearl is by knowing its name and classification. A salesperson may give you some fancy name, which isn’t really that of a real pearl, to make you believe that you are buying an authentic one.
Before shopping, it’s best to be educated on some of the most common types of pearls.
· Genuine pearls
As mentioned above, pearls are formed inside molluscs—and only those that are made through this process are considered genuine. These gems can be naturally harvested or cultured, though it’s incredibly difficult to come across a natural pearl nowadays.
To ensure that you’re getting a real pearl, look for the following types below as they’re some of the most popular.
South Sea
Found along the coasts of Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines, South Sea pearls are prized for their brilliance and lustre. These are produced by Pinctada maxima oysters which can come in gold and white shades.
A natural South Sea pearl is very rare and thus, extremely expensive. Good news is that cultured ones are available at fairly reasonable prices, so getting a pair of pearl earrings is not out of the woods.
Tahitian
Coming from the black-lip Pinctada margaritifera oysters, Tahitian pearls are the only pearls that are naturally black. These are native to Tahiti and the French Polynesian islands, making these exotic gems all the more luxurious.
Whether you’re after a pearl necklace or bracelet, these gems would make any jewellery piece all the more exceptional.
Akoya
Akoya is the most abundant type of saltwater pearls. These gems are harvested from the Pinctada fucata, also known as akoya, which are found in the waters of Japan and China.
Akoya pearls have a unique reflective shine and usually come in shades of white and grey, though some have silver, green and pink undertones. With their lovely glow, these are a perfect addition to any jewellery piece.
· Synthetic pearls
Technically, synthetic or imitation pearls can’t really be classified as pearls. Instead, they are man-made and created to make them look like the real deal. They don’t even have the same composition as real pearls! In other words, these are fake ones.
If you’re after an authentic pearl, steer clear of these types:
Shell
Because of their convincing appearance, shell pearls are often mistaken for genuine ones. They are created by pulverising the inside of mollusc shells, known as the mother-of-pearl.
Like real pearls, the mother of pearl is iridescent, so when it is used to coat glass beads, telling them apart from authentic ones is quite confusing!
Majorica
‘Majorica’. Fancy, right? It may sound like an authentic type of pearl, but Majorica (or Mallorca) pearls are actually made from solid glass spheres, dipped in a mixture of ground-up fish scales, powdered mother-of-pearl and oil!
Swarovski
Coming from a reputable company such as Swarovski, you may think that their pearls are genuine. However, their gems are made up of Swarovski crystal beads that are coated with a powdered mother-of-pearl substance. But don’t worry, their synthetic pearls are clearly labelled as such to avoid confusing them for real ones.
How to spot fake pearls
Though most synthetic pearl sellers will label their products as imitation gems, there may be some who will try to deceive you! Here are some ways to tell if a pearl is fake.
Assess its shape
Because they’re manufactured, fake pearls are perfectly round. Real pearls have irregular shapes and sizes.
Look at its colour
A genuine pearl is treasured for its lustrous appearance, but if it’s too shiny, it’s probably not real!
Evaluate its weight
Whatever the size, a real pearl should be quite dense as it is made of solid nacre. So, when it feels unbelievably light, it’s best to steer clear from it.
Feel its coolness
An authentic pearl should be cool to the touch. Because a fake pearl most likely has a plastic component to it, it stays at room temperature and will warm up faster.
Do the tooth test
This is one of the simplest and most effective methods to test the authenticity of a pearl. To do this, gently rub the gem against your teeth. Since most fake pearls are made from synthetic materials, its surface would feel smooth. A real pearl will have a gritty and slightly rough feel.
Use acetone
Applying acetone on a real pearl will leave it unaffected. However, a fake pearl will lose its lustre as its coating will wear off.
Take it to a professional
If even after you’ve tried several of the tests above, you’re still doubtful of the pearl’s authenticity, it might be time to have a professional evaluate it! They have the skills and tools to correctly assess the gem.
Whether you’re after pearl rings, earrings, necklaces or bracelets, it’s best to stick to genuine gems. Synthetic ones may be affordable, but they will never give you the same satisfaction as you will have when you wear authentic pearl jewellery.
Do you have tips, insights and stories that you would like to share? We’d love to hear them. Write them down in the comments section below!
