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Real Pearls versus Imitation
Tips on Buying Pearls
Some of the giveaways of imitation pearl jewelry are immediately noticeable. One of the more telltale signs is finding black pearls that are large, symmetrical, and perfectly matched in every way. A strand such as this does not exist as real pearls, since all pearls are slightly different. Especially with the different colored hues between individual black pearls, a perfect piece of black pearl jewelry is very rarely found and worth in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Another giveaway sign is the drill hole. On imitation pearls, the drill hole is almost never as precise when compared to real pearls.
Imitation pearls are typically made from glass, ceramic, shell, or even plastic. They are coated with materials such as varnish in order to produce their fake luster. Common names for imitation pearls are “faux”, "simulated," "artificial," or "man-made." Sometimes, the names of regions are also used. Examples of this include “Red Sea Pearls” or the famous “Mallorca Pearls”. The most common imitation pearls are referred to as “Majorca Pearls”, which are essentially made of glass. It is considered very deceptive in the pearl industry to sell imitation pearls without clearly marking that fact.
A marketing ploy common among imitation pearl sellers is the use of the term “semi-cultured”. This is a misleading phrase used by deceptive organization to fool the consumer. This is where rejected pearls are taken and covered with mother-of-pearl coating and with other luster imitating chemicals and then resold to the public. These are always imitation pearls.
A common and fairly reliable test for fake pearls is to simply rub the pearl gently across your teeth. The surface of the real pearl should feel rough or “sandy” due to the unique build up of the nacreous surface. A fake or imitation pearl will generally feel smooth across your teeth, such as glass or plastic.
Chinese Akoya Pearls vs Japanese Akoya Pearls
Nothing says it like Pearls!
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