How can I tell if my pearls are real?

Natural and cultured pearls are formed by oysters and other mollusks over a period of time. When a foreign object or parasite enters the oyster or mollusk it irritates it in such a way that it causes it to secrete many layers of nacre until the offending object it is no longer an irritant. The build up of this nacre is what creates the pearl. This is how real pearls are made.

Here are two simple tests you can use to tell if your pearls are real or fake.

The first is the traditional tooth test. Simply rub the test pearl against the surface of your front teeth. Do this gently and remember, you are not trying to chew on the pearl. Since a real pearl has a natural layered surface it should feel slightly gritty or have a sandy texture against your teeth. A smooth texture can indicate a fake pearl made from plastic or glass.

A second test is a weight. A real pearl should feel heavy for its size.

Remember at PearlsOnly we only offer genuine cultured pearls of the highest quality at the most competitive prices on the market.