what is the difference in cultured and real pearls.?

Question

I want to buy pearls for my wife, but am clueless as to what is what. I need insite on what is a good value and what is a scam.

Answer 1

First, it is important to point out that cultured pearls are indeed real pearls. In fact, anyone selling a strand of natural pearls to you will almost certainly be a scam. Natural pearls have not been commercially harvested for nearly 100 years, and a strand of natural pearls is exceedingly rare. To give you an idea of value, a double strand of natural pearls just sold on auction at Christies for $7 million (the Baroda Pearls).

All pearls commercially available today are cultured pearls. This includes freshwater, akoya, Tahitian and South Sea.

Cultured pearls are produced in controlled farm settings. Oysters or mussels a coaxed open, and in the case of freshwater cultured pearls, a piece of mantle tissue is inserted into an incision in the host mantle. In saltwater pearl culturing a piece of mantle tissue and a small rounded bead composed of mother of pearl is inserted into the gonad of the host. The host coats the bead with nacre and a pearl is born.

The best way to shop for pearls and not fall victim to a scam is by educating yourself. There are some very important quality factors you should learn.

1. Luster
Luster is the most important quality factor in choosing cultured pearls. This is the reflective quality and shine from the pearl's surface. If you can see your face in the surface of the pearl, the luster is very good. If there is no reflection or the pearl is chalky, the pearl is low quality.

2. Surface
The cleaner the surface of the pearl, the higher the quality. Most pearls will have some degree of blemishing but it should not be noticeable. If the luster is extremely good, however, more blemishing is acceptable.

3. Shape
The more round the pearl, the more valuable (all other factors being equal). This is not to say that a non-round strand of pearls cannot be valuable. Indeed they can be very valuable and very beautiful. But for value, the more round, the more valuable.

4. Nacre
This is most important when shopping for akoya pearls. A low-grade akoya strand may only have a very thin layer of nacre. These are the cheap, chalky yet perfectly round pearls you will find for cheap. If the nacre is too thin the pearls will NOT last.
When examining the nacre check around the drill holes for cracking or peeling. Also roll the pearls on a flat surface and try to peer through the nacre. If you can make out a bead under the surface, the nacre is too thin.

5. Matching
If you are buying a pair of earrings they should match in color, shape, luster, and size. Acceptable deviance from a perfect match of size is about one tenth of a millimeter. In strands and sets the pearls should match in color, and quality. The pearls should also match "across". That is, pearl to pearl as the strand drapes from the neck.

6. Color
Color is a preference but does make a difference in actual value. If you are buying a piece of Tahitian pearl jewelry, look for darker pearls with green and peacock overtones.
If you are buying akoya pearls, look for silver and rose overtones.
Freshwater pearls come in a myriad of natural and dyed colors so color is not as much a value factor.
South Sea pearls come in several shades, but the most valuable are white (with pink or silver overtones) and deep gold.

7. Size
If all other factors are equal, the larger the pearl, the more valuable it is.

I would suggest spending some time reading the Web site http://www.pearl-guide.com in order to learn more about pearls. There is an interactive forum there as well were many experts and pearl lovers alike discuss pearls on a daily basis. An hour spent on that Web site will more than empower you to make a very well-educated decision when you are ready to buy.

Answer 2

Pearls are formed naturally (real) when a foreign object is lodged in an oysters mantle (fleshy part). The oyster coats the object with the smae substance you see on the inside of the oyster (mother of pearl). This can takes years if not a decade to form and the end result is not always a perfectly round pearl.

Cultured pearls are made when a foriegn object is intentionally put in the mantle. These objects are typically designed to ensure a nice round peral with a much quicker turnaround.

Answer 3

"Real" pearls are gathered in natural habitat, such as the oceans.
Cultured pearls are Domesticated Oyster Beds and the oyster is inserted with a grain of sand manually, to create a pearl. Of course the quality varies and determines the value.

It's much like a Diamond in the rough as opposed to man made. Mined diamonds are more rare and thus more expensive.

The most important thing to look for, aside from quality, is the number of knots between the pearls. The more knots, the more expensive, and less chance of breaking, in all cases.
Premium pearls are near perfect spheres.

Answer 4

Freshwater pearls and cultured pearls are produced the same way except for the type of water. Japan began pearl farming in salt water many years ago. Japanese pearls became the standard we all look to for pearls. These salt water pearls were named cultured pearls.

So--when someone asks are freshwater pearls real pearls, the answer is yes they are. They are just harvested in fresh water instead of the ocean.

Freshwater pearls are less expensive than saltwater cultured pearls because of supply and demand. Freshwater pearls can have the same luster, shape and beauty as "cultured pearls", yet they continue to cost less, for the time being.

More pearl info. can be found at source.