How to Tell if Pearls Are Real or Fake: The Foolproof Guide

September 17, 2024 - by chhaychheang - 2655 Comments.

To be able to tell if pearls are real or fake, you must first know some background information about the gemstones. Pearls are gemstones unlike any other, especially considering the fact that they are created by a living creature.

The “Queen of Gems” (as pearls are sometimes referred to as) have been treasured by humans for thousands of years, dating as far back as the Roman Empire. That said, many experts argue that the gemstone has never been as popular as it is today. Pearls exude elegance and work phenomenally to complement a variety of different outfits. Throughout the world, high demand exists for the one-of-a-kind gemstone.

To be able to tell if pearls are real or fake, you must first know some background information about the gemstones.

Pearls are gemstones unlike any other, especially considering the fact that they are created by a living creature. The “Queen of Gems” (as pearls are sometimes referred to as) have been treasured by humans for thousands of years, dating as far back as the Roman Empire. That said, many experts argue that the gemstone has never been as popular as it is today. Pearls exude elegance and work phenomenally to complement a variety of different outfits. Throughout the world, high demand exists for the one-of-a-kind gemstone.

First and foremost, both natural pearls and cultured pearls are 100% authentic pearls because both are produced by mollusks such as oysters and mussels.

The primary difference between these two types of pearls is how the pearl formation process begins. For natural pearls, a microscopic irritant gets trapped inside the pearl completely by random chance in the wild, prompting the mollusk to begin covering the irritant with nacre and eventually producing a pearl after a few years. For cultured pearls, on the other hand, the irritant is inserted into the mollusk by a pearl cultivator through a delicate incision.

Before the creation of cultured pearls in 1893, natural pearls were the only option available—making the gemstones both extremely rare and expensive.

Only royalty and the elite were able to afford natural pearls. With the creation of cultured pearls, the gemstones became more available and as a result, more affordable.

Pearl farmers tend to the mollusks with great care, making sure the water conditions are ideal for pearl production and keeping the mollusks away from any predators. Today, nearly all new pearl jewelry that is sold by retailers features cultured pearls. Natural pearl jewelry, on the other hand, is often sold as vintage jewelry by premier auction houses such as Christie’s and Sotheby’s. Furthermore, any time a piece of vintage natural pearl jewelry goes up for auction, its final sale price is usually in the millions. Since the creation of cultured pearls, many countries have placed bans on diving for natural pearls due to the diminishing mollusk population that in part has been caused by overfishing.

At Laguna Pearl, we’ve made it our top priority to provide our clients with the highest-quality cultured pearls at the lowest possible prices. We offer an extensive selection of every type of cultured pearl including Freshwater, Akoya, Hanadama, Tahitian, and South Sea pearls. Throughout the years, we’ve earned a reputation as one of the most trustworthy pearl retailers around by maintaining a high level of quality, professionalism, and service. All of our purchases are backed by a 60-day return policy which allows you to return your pearl jewelry item for a full refund if you are unhappy with it for any reason, no questions asked.