Top Tips on How to Identify Real Pearls

Once pearls were discovered in ancient times, machines have been produced to differ between real and fake pearls. Pearls are stunning and valuable. It is important to tell the difference between a real pearl and a fake pearl. Below, are some tips to enable you to tell the difference.

The Temperature:

First of all, touch the pearl. It should be cold at first and warm up after 3-4 seconds. This is a sign of a genuine pearl. If the pearl stays warm from the minute you touch it and after a few seconds, there’s a chance it could be a fake plastic version. 

However, if a pearl ia made of glass beads it will be cold to begin with. It will then start to warm up. The way to tell, is the time it takes to warm up. If it takes longer than 5 seconds, it is not a real pearl.

Checking the Surface of The Pearl:

Under magnification, each pearl, if it is genuine, will have irregularities on the surface and tiny ridges. With the highest quality pearls out there, there are always differences with a cultured one. No two pearls should be the same. 

Meaning, each individual pearl should have a different shape, have different surface characteristics and be different shades and sized. When it comes to reflecting light, a genuine and a fake pearl are, of course, completely different. The fake version has an unnatural look to it, a glassy look.

Touching the Pearls Surface and Feeling Its Weight:

Real pearls tend to be heavy, whilst a fake pearl will be a lot lighter. An exercise to carry out would be rubbing the pearl against your front teeth. If genuine, the pearl will feel slightly gritty against your teeth. If the pearl is fake, it should feel very smooth against the teeth and perhaps glassy.

Looking At The Shape Of The Pearl And The Drill Holes:

Very rare and extremely expensive, there are a range of perfectly round commanded pearls. However, the majority or pearls, are very rarely rounded. You will notice, under magnification, that in real pearls, the drill holes are very small. 

Yet, in a fake pearl, the drill holes are a lot larger. The coating around these fake peals tends to be very thin. More than likely, the coting will chip or peel off.

In order to come to a decision, consider all of these methods. If you cant conclude your checks, visit a professional for some advice.