What is the best way to distinguish from genuine pearls and fake pearls? In other words, if a woman has a pearl necklace around her neck, how can one tell if they're real or not?

mochyn

real pearls come in different shapes and sizes ,fake ones tend to look similar,but real ones are gritty ,fake ones are smooth http://www.solitaire.com.sg/magazine/aug_sep/story3.html Sep 17 03, 4:47 PM

Siskin

Real pearls feel warm against the skin, whereas the fakes are cold. mochyn has already mentioned the grittyness of the real thing - a bit difficult if the necklace is around the neck, but if you put a pearl through the teeth it will feel slightly rough - the imposter will be smooth. Sep 17 03, 5:28 PM

sue943

If you are able, bite one (gently, not crunch). Real pearls (and for that count cultured too) are gritty to the teeth regardless of shape, simulated pearls are smooth. Sep 17 03, 5:33 PM

sue943

I would add that these days fresh water pearls are very inexpensive so there are a lot of people out there wearing 'real' pearls who wouldn't have been able to afford them a few years ago. Sep 17 03, 5:36 PM

gmackematix

According to an episode of "The Avengers" real pearls dissolve in wine. Could be true but I doubt it. Any volunteers with pearls to test this theory? Sep 17 03, 7:44 PM

sequoianoir

A pearl is approximately 85-90% calcium carbonate, the remainder, conchiolin (an organic protein that binds the crystals together) and a small percentage of water. A pearl is susceptible to a weak acid solution. Wine, if it still is to be drinkable, is not more than 0.1% acetic acid and not sufficiently acidic to dissolve a pearl, at least not quickly. Wine vinegar, on the other hand, is approximately 5-7% acetic acid, a concentration necessary if the calcium carbonate is to be dissolved. The crystals of calcium carbonate are converted by acetic acid into calcium, which dissolves in the residual water, and carbonate that effervesces as bubbles of carbon dioxide, the formula for which is CaCO3 + CH3COOH --> Ca + H2O + CO2. Sep 17 03, 7:53 PM

lothruin

For the record, cultured pearls ARE real pearls. They are created through a natural process, just like other pearls. It is just that the irritant is planted rather than a natural occurance. And also for the record, cultured and freshwater are not two separate types of pearls. Freshwater pearls are often cultured and salt water pearls are often not. And, freshwater pearls are every bit as real as oyster pearls, and have, during certain periods, been more sought after than salt-water pearls. The tooth test is the very best way to tell real from fake in most cases. Natural nacre is slightly rough. Fake pearls are almost always either glass or plastic, usually with a painted or coated surface. Both of these will be smooth. However, if the pearls are on a woman's neck, you might want to ask her before applying this test. If you aren't given permission, you might instead ask if you can feel the pearls' weight. Of course, this one, without having had real pearls to hold to test against, won't do you much good. But, plastic is too light to be a pearl and glass is too heavy. As to the temperature thing, that depends entirely on what the fakes are made of. If you pick up glass pearls, they WILL feel cold. Real pearls don't conduct heat the same way glass does. However, neither does plastic, so they may or may not have that cold-to-the-touch aspect to them. Depends on the plastic and on the coating. Sep 17 03, 11:52 PM

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