how can i tell if a pearl is genuine or not? what is the best book to learn about the subject?

Question

i want to go into the pearl business and want to learn every thing about them.

Answer 1

Here's as much as I know.... if you want to know the difference between a real pearl and a manufactured one, rub it on your teeth. Yes, you read that right. The enamel on your teeth is smooth and hard, and easily distinguishes real pearls from fake. A real pearl will feel grainy, or sandy against your teeth, a fake one will feel smooth.

Pearls are put into classes A, B, C and D. The best pearls are perfectly round (or as close as a natural pearl can get) pure white (or black or pink to the top quality), have an excellent lustre, and a good strand of pearls are the same size, shape and color.
The grade of pearl goes from A being the best (perfect) to D, which are ground for use in makeup, paints, and other manufactured products requiring luster.

B and C pearls will vary in color slightly, and the shapes take a more oblong appearance (egglike) or have ripples.

The difference between freshwater and saltwater pearls is where they are grown, and that freshwater mollusks can produce a great deal more pearls per animal. Freshwater mollusks can produce as many as 40 or 50 pearls each, while saltwater mollusks can produce only a few at a time. (which is probably why they cost so much more).

A great book about pearls called "The book of the Pearl; its History, Art, Science and Industry" by George Fredrick Kunz and Charles Hugh Stevenson. You can find it on Amazon.com for about 75 dollars new or 36 dollars used (you can also check out Half.com....a great place to buy used books really cheap).

Answer 2

pearls have a sort of rainbow sheen fake pearls dont . like have you ever seen the inside of an oyster shell thats what it shoul look like because that is what its made of and pearls are always drilled never strung straghit through because pearls are made of layers and layers and they peel.