Natural pearls vs. cultured pearls vs. fake pearls

Often, people perceive natural pearls to be worth more than cultured pearls. Still, both can look beautiful. There are differences in how the two types of pearls—natural or cultured—form. There are also tests designed to test what type of pearl you have. You can also bring the pearls into a store for an expert opinion.

The origins of the pearls

Fake pearls, man-made or imitation pearls, are made to fool the human eye. They should look similar to real pearls and are made when layer after layer of varnish is applied over a small object, such as a bead. When the varnish dries, according to a Webpage on pearlsofjoy.com, the cultured pearl can show a pearly luster and even iridescence in the light.

A naturally formed pearl is made within an animal, called a mollusk. Mollusks are sea creatures with two shells and one example is a mussel.  This type of pearl is the most expensive. Divers need to retrieve the mollusk and the pearl, so out of all pearls, it is the rarest.

Cultured pearls are made by “farming” mollusks and placing a bead or other small object in the mollusk in hopes of it growing a pearl.

Differentiating pearls

There are a variety of tests to determine what type of a pearl you have. A few listed on Pearls of Joy are:

·         Fake pearls feel lighter than real ones.

·         Fake pearls do not have bumps or ridges on the drilling hole. It might take a magnifying glass to notice this.

·         When comparing pearls on a strand, fake pearls will show no difference in color.