How to Identify a Fake Pearl

Cultured freshwater pearl earrings

Real pearls come either from the sea or bodies of fresh water, in oysters or other mollusks, and are natural or cultured. Though the cultured freshwater varieties of pearls are not as expensive as the natural sea pearls, they are considered real in the sense that mollusks secreted layers of nacre, the iridescent colorful layer that gives a pearl its beauty, onto a core. In such freshwater cultured pearls, the core may be man-made, but the entire pearl isn't fake. Fake pearls are made of plastic, glass, resin or other material without any natural deposits of nacre. Both real and fake pearls may be dyed. Both real and fake pearls come in a variety of shapes: round, oblong, stick, baroque or coin pearls.

Things You'll Need

• Real or fake pearls

Instructions

1. Compare all the pearls in the strand. If all the pearls are completely, perfectly round and flawless, and show no evidence of being different from one another, they are almost certainly fake.

2. Lightly rub a pearl against one of your teeth. If it feels gritty, it is possibly either a natural pearl or a freshwater, cultured pearl. If it feels very smooth, it is most likely a fake. However, this is not a wholly reliable method, as there are modifications and procedures that can make a real pearl seem smooth and a fake pearl seem rough or gritty.

3. Examine the shapes of the pearls closely under direct sunlight. Real cultured freshwater pearls and natural pearls will usually have uneven, organic shapes, with lots of tiny imperfections, while fake pearls have regular shapes and virtually no imperfections in form, though of course they may become flaked or stained. Direct sunlight will reveal the imperfections better than indoor lighting.

4. Obtain information on the provenance of the pearls. For example, if your grandmother gave them to you, ask her where she got them and how sure she is that they are real or fake. This is not reliable for confirming the pearls are real, but can often eliminate that option and confirm if the pearls are fake.

5. Look at the drill holes. If the hole seems to taper in, it is probably fake. If the hole is flush with the pearl, it is likely real.

6. Hire a gemologist to take X-rays of the pearls for you. This is the most accurate way to tell a real from a fake pearl, but it can be more expensive than probably is justified if the pearls turn out to be fake, or even cultured.

Tips & Warnings

• Mother-of-pearl is distinct from real or fake pearls but shares a similar sheen. The iridescence and color tend to be duller on mother-of-pearl items.

• Cutting a pearl open will reveal if it is natural, but this is not advised as it obviously destroys the pearl. The above steps are more pearl-friendly ways to differentiate a real pearl from a fake pearl.