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How to tell if pearls are real?

P: 10/19/2004 6:23:36 PM
elepri Ideal Rock Total Posts: 759 Last Post: 5/6/2006 Member Since: 6/29/2004	I impulsively bid on a string of pearls on ebay and won. I got it today and have no idea if they're even real or plastic. They were described as Akoya cultured pearls and I paid only $20 for it (including shipping and handling). Realizing that you get what you pay for, is it still possible that they're reall pearls? And how do you tell short of taking it to an appraiser? Thanks.
Posted: 10/19/2004 6:23:36 PM

There are 8 replies to this message. There are 8 replies on this page.

P: 10/19/2004 6:52:38 PM
Nicrez Ideal Rock Total Posts: 3,230 Last Post: 10/21/2009 Member Since: 1/21/2004	Well, short of taking it to an appraiser there are only a few test you can do to determine if they are plastic or pearl. Rub them together and there should be some dust that appears, but no scratches. Also pearl should be cool to the touch (touch to your lips, as they are MOST sensistive to warmth), and plastic should be room temp. Consider that Akoya are cultured pearls, as are almost every single pearl on the market. You can tell quality of any pearl by how round they are, by how much Irridescence they have (rainbow shine) and even the amount of nacre there is (meaning the pearl excretion that makes up the white parrt of the pearl exterior we see) Here's a link that can help explain these things a bit better: http://www.gem.org.au/about/pearlbook.pdf my guess is that they are Chinese freshwater strand, as Akoya pearls (which are Saltwater) tend to be MUCH more than $20... "Sometimes it's OK to throw rocks at girls...as long as they sparkle! " Nicrez, G.G., A.J.P.
Posted: 10/19/2004 6:52:38 PM

P: 10/19/2004 8:05:24 PM
Richard Sherwood Ideal Rock Total Posts: 4,879 Last Post: 11/23/2009 Member Since: 9/25/2002	Rub them across the front of your tooth. Pearls are calcium carbonate, and have a fine "gritty feel" when rubbed across the front surface of your teetch. Imitations are glass or plastic, both of which slip right across the surface of your tooth. Plastic feels very light, glass feels very heavy. If you look at the drill hole with a 10x loupe, you should be able to see the demarcation point between the outer layer of pearl called nacre, and the inner bead used for the cultivation. This outer layer is usually only .25 to .75 mm thick. Glass has a very thin painted layer visibile at the drill hole, and plastic has that characteristic plastic look. Rich, Independent GG Appraiser Sarasota Gemological Laboratory
Posted: 10/19/2004 8:05:24 PM

P: 10/20/2004 12:57:14 PM
elepri Ideal Rock Total Posts: 759 Last Post: 5/6/2006 Member Since: 6/29/2004	Nicrez and Richard, Thanks for your advice. It does feel sort of gritty and cold. Guess i should get a loupe now.
Posted: 10/20/2004 12:57:14 PM

P: 10/20/2004 1:28:29 PM
DiamondLil Ideal Rock Total Posts: 2,405 Last Post: 6/1/2006 Member Since: 6/8/2003	---------------- On 10/19/2004 8:05:24 PM Richard Sherwood wrote: Rub them across the front of your tooth. Pearls are calcium carbonate, and have a fine 'gritty feel' when rubbed across the front surface of your teetch. Imitations are glass or plastic, both of which slip right across the surface of your tooth. ---------------- I had to laugh at this high-tech way of determining if pearls are real. My grandmother told me the same thing about 20 years ago. I wonder what my local estate dealer will say when I try this in his store. DiamondLil ________________ "Diamonds are nothing more than chunks of coal that stuck to their jobs."
Posted: 10/20/2004 1:28:29 PM

P: 10/20/2004 7:11:50 PM
Richard Sherwood Ideal Rock Total Posts: 4,879 Last Post: 11/23/2009 Member Since: 9/25/2002	DiamondLil, one time I did a quick tooth test on a pearl in front of a male client. He looked at me for a moment, and said "I'll spare you the knowledge of where that strand last was." Heh heh heh... Gave me pause. Now I always scrub a pearl before giving it the tooth test. Rich, Independent GG Appraiser Sarasota Gemological Laboratory
Posted: 10/20/2004 7:11:50 PM

P: 10/21/2004 12:19:05 PM
canuk-gal Ideal Rock Total Posts: 9,195 Last Post: 11/19/2009 Member Since: 4/19/2004	---------------- On 10/20/2004 7:11:50 PM Richard Sherwood wrote: DiamondLil, one time I did a quick tooth test on a pearl in front of a male client. He looked at me for a moment, and said 'I'll spare you the knowledge of where that strand last was.' Heh heh heh... Gave me pause. Now I always scrub a pearl before giving it the tooth test. ---------------- HI: Whew--have many tabloid heiresses' ex-boyfriends as clients Mr. S?? cheers Sharon "People who possess great qualities, do not need to show off".
Posted: 10/21/2004 12:19:05 PM

P: 10/22/2004 5:25:03 PM
elepri Ideal Rock Total Posts: 759 Last Post: 5/6/2006 Member Since: 6/29/2004	Gee thanks, guess i should've cleaned it before the tooth test I actually took it to the jeweler down the street and he did the same exact test and nicely informed me that the thing was synthetic. What do i know... So i sent it back, now will see if i get my money back too. Guess i shoud've known better about ebay bargains.
Posted: 10/22/2004 5:25:03 PM

P: 10/24/2004 4:04:53 AM
Kamuelamom Ideal Rock Total Posts: 1,808 Last Post: 10/20/2006 Member Since: 4/18/2003	Haha, Rich, too funny! Hey, thanks for that explanation. I've always wondered too and even pondered a string of Akoya's once or twice from Overstock.com.
Posted: 10/24/2004 4:04:53 AM

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