Are Your Pearls Real?

Are your pearls real? This is how to find out

Pearls are synonymous with elegance and class. The quintessential charm of pearl jewelry has attracted many. Celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker, Katy Perry, and the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, have a penchant for pearls.

Celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker, Katy Perry, and the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, have a penchant for pearls.

The pearl jewelry lends a sophisticated touch to all attires and comes in various shapes and colors. Some pearls are brighter than the others and some are more expensive than the rest. With easy availability and an extensive range, it’s hard to determine the genuineness of the product. To help you figure out whether those pristine pearls in your closet are real or not, here are a few tips.

Look for imperfections

The flawless the pearl is, the higher its chances of being fake. The formation of real pearls is a natural process and has a scope for imperfection. Unlike the artificial pearls, the pearls that are derived from freshwater or ocean shellfish are bound to have some minor flaws inside. These are absent in the imitation pearls.

Observe for deviations in size

If the pearls are perfectly round, there is a good chance that they are imitations. Finding perfectly-rounded pearls with a flawless appearance is rare. Real pearls are oblong in size with some signs of imperfection. Also, each natural pearl is unique with the difference in shape, size, color, and luster. If all pearls in your necklace appear the same, the chances are high that you have invested in a piece of artificial pearl jewelry.

Feel the weight

Most real pearls feel a little heavier than artificial pearls of the same size. If the pearls feel hefty in your hand, be assured of their purity. On the contrary, plastic pearls feel insignificant when weighed on your hand. This method may not assure you of the purity of pearls completely, but clearly is an indicator of the extremes on the purity meter. 

Check for their gritty texture

Surface magnification is one of the reliable ways to check the purity of pearls.  Pearls when observed under microscopic magnification showcase a characteristic maze-like pattern that vouches for their purity. You need a 64X magnifying glass to check if the surface has a mazy or scale-like structure.

Another great test to authenticate real pearls is the surface friction test. Bring the surface of two beads together and rub them against each other. If you feel the friction between the two, they are real, unlike the smoother ones.

Try the tooth test

Rub the pearls against your teeth. Do they feel gritty? If yes, then you should be relieved that the pearls are real. Real pearls do not have a flawlessly smooth surface and so produce friction when rubbed against teeth. This is one of the most popular tests to validate real pearl jewelry at home. If you want to be doubly sure about the authenticity of your pearls, then there is a refractometer test, X-radiograph test, etc. done exclusively by professionals in the field.

Leave no doubt, refer to an expert

A test that most experts prefer for pearl testing is the X-radiograph test. With the help of an X-ray machine, the pearls are checked for purity. While real pearls show a semi-transparent grey color, the fake ones are solid white and solid black on the positive and negative print respectively.

Getting your pearl jewelry appraised by a professional may cost you more, but is a more reliable option than the various tests performed at home.

With various jewelry designers adding a fresh breath to antique pearl jewelry designs, you can find all the modern variants in one place – CaratLane. Whether pearl earrings or pearl pendants, this online jewelry shopping platform has it all to add more colors to your festivities.

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