Spotting the fake. Pearls.

Throughout history, pearl jewelry has established its position as a timeless and classic accessory that tends to give that extra something to personal style or a specific look. The everlasting chic, beauty, and elegance as well as versatility of pearls make them a favourite among jewelry enthusiasts all over the world.

Their popularity has also been quickly noticed by costume jewelry companies, which have been known to include a string of fake pearls or exquisite rings in their collection, making it more affordable for those who couldn’t pay the price that has been often associated with genuine gemstones. On top of that, costume jewelry is no longer looked down on. Many women mix fine and fake pieces together with great success, which can also be attributed to the fact that fashion jewelry production has become more and more sophisticated, making it often quite difficult to distinguish between real pearls and their fake counterparts. Many companies, such as Sarah Coventry or Monet, produced stunning collections with faux pearls and other imitation stones. To this day they are renowned for the quality, craftsmanship and seem increasingly collectable. 

Unfortunately, some jewelry sellers use the evolving methods of production to trick the customer into buying a fake when they expect to buy genuine pearl jewelry. However, there are a few ways that are quite useful to know when trying to spot the fake:

• It is worth closely examining the surface of the beads. Since pearls are never created equal, they are after all a natural stone, there should be some tiny irregularities in shape or symmetry present -- they are hardly ever a perfect round bead – that is often the case with fake jewelry. On top of that, an ideal looking string with no differentiation in shade or radiance of the stones is a telltale sign of a fake. 

• Since pearls are so precious and beautiful, the manufacturers tend to use knots when stringing pear stones together from scrapping. The holes that are drilled into them to make them into a necklace should be neat and tiny in order to preserve their beauty and integrity. Many a time, the quickest way to spot a fake is to look at the drill hole and the surrounding area, which might show a certain amount of chipping or even cracks. This can be quite visible in vintage pearl jewelry as even the best and high-quality imitations slowly show “their colours” with passing years. 
  

• Those irregularities to the surface make them feel quite gritty when they are rubbed against natural teeth, a little method used to spot the fake pearls. Fake ones will always feel absolutely smooth. The downside of this technique, it might not be the best way to test pearls at a jewelry store for obvious reasons. A very reliable way of testing is rubbing natural pearls together, which will result in powdery residue. One needs to keep in mind that this particular trick is likely to create minor damage to the stones. Also, if pearls are fake, it could cause them to chip or flake, which can be a shame if the piece is collectable.  

• Furthermore, genuine pearls are known for their lustrous, glowing appearance. It is especially well visible in the natural light, which brings their mirror-like shine to life. They often give off a slightly pinkish or yellowish shade.  At the same time, fake pearls often end up looking dull. A closer inspection often can reveal other sins of fake pearls, such as chipping or a change in shade. 

• Weight might also be an indicator of an imitation, as real pearls tend to be heavier than similar looking pieces of jewelry containing faux pearls. Especially when it comes to more vintage items, when the method of production and materials used could not copy natural pearl jewelry as well as it can be executed today. 

• Natural pearls, just like other stones, feel cool when not worn but tend to adjust to one’s temperature when someone decides to wear them. Imitation pearls are known not to do that. 

If you know of any other ways to spot a fake, please, do leave a comment. :)