Imitation Pearl

Genuine or Imitation Pearls? How to Tell Them Apart

There are many varieties of pearl, both real and fake, and it can be hard to distinguish between the genuine article or a fake. Even amongst genuine pearls there are many different classes of both natural and cultured varieties, all with their own different properties and all valued very differently as pearl jewellery. Before buying any pearls it’s important that you know what you’re getting, so here are some methods you can use to tell the difference between a genuine pearl and a fake:

The Tooth Test
It’s said that if you rub a pearl against the biting edge of your front teeth, you can tell whether it’s real or fake by the feel of its surface. Genuine pearls usually have a rougher, more irregular texture in contrast to imitation pearls which are usually very smooth or even glassy. This isn’t really the most reliable method of testing, as fakes are often made to appear completely genuine and some real pearls can sometimes be smooth, particularly if the surface has been dyed.

The Sun Test
Another indicator is to take the pearls into full daylight and look closely at the lustre, or iridescence, that you see on the surface. Unless they are extremely rare and expensive, genuine pearls won’t be perfectly matched under the sun and you will be able to see slight imperfections in the colour and lustre.

Surface Magnification
Don’t underestimate the power of a magnifying glass – a closeup look at the pearl earrings, necklace or brooch can tell you a lot, and is one of the most effective ways of distinguishing between genuine and fake pearls. The surface of a real pearl is crossed with hundreds of tiny almost invisible crooked lines, giving them an almost scaly look under magnification. Whilst there you could also take a look at the small drill holes at either end of the pearl, which in a real pearl will be as tiny as they can be because larger holes devalue the gem. The holes are usually drilled from both ends and meet in the middle, so the hole is much smaller in the middle of the pearl.

Shape
One of the most obvious ways to identify real pearl sets is to look closely at the shape of each pearl and whether or not they are close to being identical – real pearls are hardly ever perfectly round, and it is almost unheard of to find a whole string of pearls of exactly the same size, shape and weight. Those which are will be very expensive, and if not they are probably fake.

X-Ray
The only truly reliable way to be sure a pearl is authentic is to have it verified and certified by a qualified gemologist. You can have the pearl x-rayed for a price, showing any variations in density and identifying the nucleus to determine how the pearl was originally formed. To be worth paying the price you need to first be fairly sure that the pearl is genuine, but many imitation pearls look very real and it’s the only way to really be 100% sure without damaging the pearl.

The Flame Test on Pearls – Burning Pearls

United Cutlery GH5032 Gil Hibben Pro Folder Tailwind with Imitation Pearl Insert $23.83 3.50 in. 7cR17 steel blade 4.50 in. closed. Black aluminum handle with pearl inlay. Comesplete with a stainless pocket clip….

Kissing Crane Kriss Stiletto IM Pearl $29.99 We know you like stilettos, but you’ve never seen one this unique. The all-new Kissing Crane imitation pearl kriss stiletto features a classy, elegant, imitation abalone handle and brass plated pins, bolsters and a brass Kissing Crane cast shield on the handle. It has a 4″ mirror polished stainless steel kriss blade with a unique curved design often found in ancient knives from the regions of Sout…

Kissing Crane Stiletto Imitation Pearl Damascus $19.98 We know you like stilettos, but you’ve never seen one this nice. The all-new Kissing Crane imitation pearl handle stiletto features an imitation pearl handle with brass plated pins and bolsters, and a brass Kissing Crane cast shield. Completed by a 4″ Damascus steel blade, it’s just what you need for elegant looks and great protection. 5″ overall….

DOVO Imitation Mother of pearl Gold Etch Straight razor $170.00 Dovo Model 415815. Imitation Mother of Pearl handle. Stainless steel, mirror polished blade with gold etch. 5/8″ Round point. Hollow ground . Dovo razors are known throughout the world as a top of the line product. If you’re considering giving a straight razor as a gift you can not go wrong with a Dovo brand straight razor. Made in Germany….

Crown Comb Hair Silver Headdress Bridal Accessory $54.82 Give yourself a treat by browsing through our new jewelry items. This jewelry item in particular features Harmonie Alloy and Imitation Pearl and Czech Diamond, all of which create this fine piece of gorgeous jewelry. All of our jewelry items will make a great gift for anybody that’s about to get married. Product Content: 1x Crown Comb Hair Silver Headdress for Wedding Brides. Condition:New Locatio…

Dovo Straight Razor Pearl Imitation 5/8 $141.22 Dovo straight razors are each made in Solingen, Germany, of the finest German steel. Each has been hand sharpened and stropped at the factory and is ready to use. Dovo Straight Razor with imitation Mother of Pearl handle, carbon steel full hollow ground blade, with gold and silver etching on the blade….

Battpit™ New Replacement Laptop / Notebook AC Adapter / Power Supply / Charger for Asus Eee PC 4G XP – Pearl White (9.5V 2.315A 22W Laptop Adapter (Fixed A-Tip)) $9.99 Battpit™ New Replacement Laptop / Notebook AC Adapter / Power Supply / Charger for Asus Eee PC 4G XP – Pearl White 9.5V 2.315A 22W Laptop Adapter (Fixed A-Tip) . 30-Day Money Back Guarantee. 1 Year Warranty…

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Faux-Pearl Necklace $0.60 Includes 1 plastic 48″ faux-pearl plastic necklace….