Have a pearl necklace...?

Question

that I found in a jewelry box in my garage. I have no idea whose it is or where it came from. Is there anyway to tell if they are real pearls or not?

I don't want to damage the necklace. It really is amazing.

Thanks

Answer 1

The easiest way to determine whether a strand of pearls is genuine or fake is by the tooth test.

Pearls are composed of calcium carbonate platelets that are laid one on top of another like scales. The ridges can be felt with your tooth.

Take the pearl and something made of plastic. It is easiest to have something that is certainly 'not' a pearl to compare. Rub the plastic item against the front edge of a front tooth. The plastic will slide easily and smoothly. Next, do the same thing with the pearl. If the pearl is a fake it will feel like the plastic. If the pearl is genuine the difference will be black and white. The pearl will feel somewhat like very fine sandpaper in comparison.

If the pearl is real strand, the next step is to determine what kind of pearl it is. If it is something you "found in a box", it is likely a freshwater strand, or possibly an akoya strand.

If the pearls are off-round with no symmetry - often shaped like a potato - the strand is freshwater. If the pearls are perfect round to very near round, they are likely akoya.

Answer 2

take it to a certified jeweler to be safe but here are some ways you can get an idea your self

take your pearls out into the sun or holding them under very bright indoor lighting. Unless they are very expensive, genuine pearls won't be perfectly matched under the sun. You will be able to see variations in their iridescence (orient) and color. If the pearls are perfectly matched for color and overtones, they are most probably fake

Fakes tend to look 'flat' in comparison to the real thing. There are exceptions, of course, with beautiful simulated pearls made by Swarovski and other manufacturers. Real pearls tend not to be perfect and may have bands in their nacre, bumps, ridges, or pits. They vary in size and shape from one to another. Genuine pearls may have concentric ridged circles around them, which inexperienced people may take for marks from molding of a fake (which is seen in the exact middle of all the pearls on strands of some faux pearls). Real pearls come in many shapes, but they tend not to be perfectly round, so a perfect sphere should be suspect. Expensive genuine pearls may be round, but you will have other clues to help you make a determination. Some fakes are made to look irregular, and glass pearls often have flattened ends or slightly oval shapes. In addition to visual clues, genuine pearls tend to warm to the skin much faster than glass pearls. Resin or plastic pearls tend to feel somewhat warm upon first contact.

Density is the mass of an object as a function of its volume. Real pearls are heavier for their size than plastic, resin, or hollow glass pearls. Good glass fakes will have the same density are real pearls. Light pearls are fake - you can't tell real from faux on the basis of density alone if the pearls are heavy.

Answer 3

Real pearls feel gritty or sandy whereas fake ones are smooth.

Real pearls feel heavy to hold,fake ones are light.

Most real pearls have minimal flaws, fake ones are normally absolutely flawless.

It tells you how to check if pearls are real or fake on the link ;)


I hope they turn out to be real for you :)

Answer 4

Just take it over to a jewelry store in the mall and have someone look at it. I know you can get appraisals at Mayors. Good luck!

Answer 5

Why not show them to your parents and tell them from where you found it. They might know. If not, then take it to a jewelry store.

Answer 6

go to the jewelery shop they will know if it is real pearl or not.
Good Luck!

Answer 7

this sound weird but all you have to do is scratch the pearls on your tooth if you feel it course or rough...its real.....this is what i usually do when buying one........try it...........fake pearls is smooth when you try to scratch it sometimes the enamel even comes off.......

Answer 8

Take it to a jewelery store.