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question about natural pearls

P: 11/2/2005 5:06:05 PM
pad3006 Cut Rock Total Posts: 200 Last Post: 12/8/2006 Member Since: 9/23/2003	Hi everyone; I was wondering if anyone in here can answer this question for me. My mom has a strand of natural (non cultured) pearls. However she recently moved and now she cannot tell which of the strands of real pearls she has are the ones that are natural. How can she find out which are the naturals? She wants to get them apprased and insured, that is why she wants to find out. Thanks everyone. Phil
Posted: 11/2/2005 5:06:05 PM

There are 20 replies to this message. There are 20 replies on this page.

P: 11/2/2005 5:09:38 PM
MINE!! Ideal Rock Total Posts: 3,287 Last Post: 1/22/2007 Member Since: 2/25/2005	I would imagine that taking them into a jeweler would be her best bet. I would stay away from the Maul stores, but maybe a high end jeweler would be her best route.
Posted: 11/2/2005 5:09:38 PM

P: 11/2/2005 5:16:32 PM
widget Ideal Rock Total Posts: 4,254 Last Post: 12/20/2008 Member Since: 11/12/2004	What an interesting problem! If you don't get any knowledgable answers here, you might try reposting this in the colored gemstones forum to get more attention from the experts. I'd guess (this is and un-knowledgable answer) that it would take an appraiser or a lab to figure it out. I've heard stories that you can have your dentist xray them to see which have the "seeds" in them, but I don't know if this is true. I suspect it is worth figuring out though, as natural pearls are quite rare, and often costly. Good luck! widget
Posted: 11/2/2005 5:16:32 PM

P: 11/2/2005 5:21:37 PM
MINE!! Ideal Rock Total Posts: 3,287 Last Post: 1/22/2007 Member Since: 2/25/2005	Widget... wouldn't the 'natural' pearls be heavier than plastic types?
Posted: 11/2/2005 5:21:37 PM

P: 11/2/2005 5:25:07 PM
widget Ideal Rock Total Posts: 4,254 Last Post: 12/20/2008 Member Since: 11/12/2004	MINE!.....hee hee...I have no idea! widget
Posted: 11/2/2005 5:25:07 PM

P: 11/2/2005 9:03:32 PM
MINE!! Ideal Rock Total Posts: 3,287 Last Post: 1/22/2007 Member Since: 2/25/2005	oh.... Just wondering..
Posted: 11/2/2005 9:03:32 PM

P: 11/2/2005 11:31:48 PM
JulieN Ideal Rock Total Posts: 7,148 Last Post: 11/23/2009 Member Since: 7/25/2005	Not natural isn't plastic... only cultured. I think the x-ray is a very good idea. Also, when she gets them strung, you can look down the drill hole and (in the cultured pearls) be able to see where the nacre ends and the seed (implant, whatever.. can't remember right now) begins.
Posted: 11/2/2005 11:31:48 PM

P: 11/3/2005 1:32:51 AM
valeria101 Ideal Rock Total Posts: 14,048 Last Post: 4/30/2006 Member Since: 8/29/2003	Are the natural and cultured the same size, shape and color !? Wow! Cultured ones are usually allot rounder and larger and more evenly colored than naturals. That should do to tell them apart for the most cases. Natural pearls that can be confused with a decent stand of cultured pearls would be quite something.... I wouldn't mess with them, but let the appraiser who will test them to tell which is what. And I would not show up to the ER to have pearls X-rayed: I doubt they's know how to treat pearls without harming them somehow and wouldn't want to experiment with a strand of pricesless pearls either. Hope some of this helps Ana "The greatest experts are only as good as the sum total of what they have seen." [Souren Melikian]
Posted: 11/3/2005 1:32:51 AM

P: 11/3/2005 1:41:29 AM
Maya Moonstone Cut Rock Total Posts: 212 Last Post: 10/21/2007 Member Since: 4/7/2005	Hi I don't know where I have learned this, or even if it is true for all natural pearls...but when you bite lightly or scrape lightly with your teeth on natural pearls it will feel like "sandpaper". Pearls that are not real but from "plastic" for a lack of a better word, will be smooth against your teeth. Don't know if that answers your question at all. When I visited my appraiser recently I took a string of baroque pearls some-one bought for me more than 15 years ago. She looked them over and told me that it was not worth insuring them since they had blemishes. Maybe if your mother has a knowledgable appraiser, they will know how to determine it accurately. Maya
Posted: 11/3/2005 1:41:29 AM

P: 11/3/2005 1:54:04 AM
samuelnng Rough Rock Total Posts: 4 Last Post: 11/3/2005 Member Since: 4/22/2005	well if it's too much of a hassle going to a jeweller,what i SUGGEST is that u grind the last pearl against your front tooth LIGHTLY in SMALL CIRCULAR MOTION,you will feel some friction as pearl are mainly calcium carbonate therefor very similar in term of our tooth,fake pearls will feel very smooth and frictionless.this is one of the most reliable ways of checking pearls for pearl dealers.alternatively,u may try to purchase a 20 time magnification eyepc (instead of 10 times so as to make things easily fo you)look closely and u should be able to see pitted surface area on the real strand,fake pearls will project a smooth surface in all the individual pearl.also the colours of NATURAL pearls will seldom be uniform thru out and certain pearls should have lighter colour shade.fake pearls tends to be very uniform in sizes n colours. (as they usually reserved the pearl with the smallest diameter as the ending u should use the last pearl for the grinding test) hope it helps samuel ng
Posted: 11/3/2005 1:54:04 AM

P: 11/3/2005 2:12:29 AM
valeria101 Ideal Rock Total Posts: 14,048 Last Post: 4/30/2006 Member Since: 8/29/2003	Is this about identifying non-cultured or simulants of some sort versus cultured pearls? Xray is the only reliable method to id non-nucleated pearls - part of the process of telling cultured from natural (wild, or whatever called). I've heard about biting into pearls to tell simulants from culture or natural, but this will not serve the other test. I am pretty curious about these pearls by now! Ana "The greatest experts are only as good as the sum total of what they have seen." [Souren Melikian]
Posted: 11/3/2005 2:12:29 AM

P: 11/3/2005 2:50:37 AM
samuelnng Rough Rock Total Posts: 4 Last Post: 11/3/2005 Member Since: 4/22/2005	you are absolutely right valeria101,in order to tell the difference between natural and cultured pearl,the only reliable known way till now is x ray,but unfortunely this method is not readily available in many places,i have another suggestion ,this time use a 30 times magnification,observe thru the drill holes,u should be able to see a fine line appx 1-2mm inside the drill hole,this is because culture pearls use a necleus or bead as a irritant to cultivate pearls and therefor u should be able to see the dividing point between the bead n nacre(coating of the pearl),Natural pearl will not have this fine line as the pearl occur naturally and the colour inside the pearl should be uniform thru out.it would be better if i know what the strand of necklace is ie japanese origin,south sea or tathiti etc? hope it helps samuel ng
Posted: 11/3/2005 2:50:37 AM

P: 11/3/2005 5:15:03 AM
valeria101 Ideal Rock Total Posts: 14,048 Last Post: 4/30/2006 Member Since: 8/29/2003	Date: 11/3/2005 2:50:37 AM Anonymous Wrote: in order to tell the difference between natural and cultured pearl,the only reliable known way till now is x ray,but unfortunately this method is not readily available in many places I would have a question... What happens with non-nucleated pearls: saltwater Keshi and freshwater tissue nucleated or whatever makes them without a bead inside. X-ray only shows the presence of an artificial nucleus, no? Are any differences identified by labs (yes / no is about enough - I know these stories can get long) or the point is basically moot because of the distinct appearance of these pearls etc. The particular subject is a ~16 x 18 mm semi baroque light silver pearl. It looks great. The owner (not me, I'd wish!) asked whether there is any way to tell a South Sea Keshi from a 'wild' saltwater pearl. Either would amount to quite a find, I guess. Perhaps of different degrees? Ana "The greatest experts are only as good as the sum total of what they have seen." [Souren Melikian]
Posted: 11/3/2005 5:15:03 AM

P: 11/3/2005 6:50:52 AM
AGBF Ideal Rock Total Posts: 8,048 Last Post: 11/24/2009 Member Since: 1/26/2003	Date: 11/3/2005 1:41:29 AM Author: Maya Moonstone I don't know where I have learned this, or even if it is true for all natural pearls...but when you bite lightly or scrape lightly with your teeth on natural pearls it will feel like 'sandpaper'. Pearls that are not real but from 'plastic' for a lack of a better word, will be smooth against your teeth. This is supposed to help one differentiate between cultured pearls and simulated ones. (Most people have not even seen, much less owned, a natural pearl!) A cultured pearl should feel sandier on the teeth. I assume a natural pearl would feel sandy, also, but I really wouldn't want to scratch the nacre or ruin the lustre fooling with it! After all, if it felt sandy all you would know was that it wasn't simulated. You wouldn't know if it were cultured. How on earth did your mother obtain an entire strand of natural pearls!? Deb :-) A Girl's Best Friend
Posted: 11/3/2005 6:50:52 AM

P: 11/3/2005 7:09:53 AM
widget Ideal Rock Total Posts: 4,254 Last Post: 12/20/2008 Member Since: 11/12/2004	How on earth did your mother obtain an entire strand of natural pearls!? Deb :-) Good point, Deb...wouldn't a strand of natural pearls be very old? You'd think the age, condition of the clasp might help identify which strand is the THE ONE... widget
Posted: 11/3/2005 7:09:53 AM

P: 11/3/2005 7:23:08 AM
Lorelei Ideal Rock Total Posts: 34,246 Last Post: 11/24/2009 Member Since: 4/30/2005	My cultured pearls feel sandy against my teeth too, I have heard this years ago. I wish you luck in getting this sorted, how wonderful to have the real thing Definitely start with a well recommended professional, you don't want to get this wrong Nothing is more sacred as the bond between horse and rider...no other creature can ever become so emotionally close to a human as a horse. When a horse dies, the memory lives on because an enormous part of his owner's heart, soul, very existence dies also...but that can never be laid to rest, it is not meant to be... - Stephanie M Thorn
Posted: 11/3/2005 7:23:08 AM

P: 11/3/2005 8:36:28 AM
pad3006 Cut Rock Total Posts: 200 Last Post: 12/8/2006 Member Since: 9/23/2003	Hi everyone; thank you so much for your responses. I will tell her about the X-ray, shes good friends with a dentist so that shouldn't be a problem. The only problem with the testing of the grain on your teeth is that all the strands she has do that both natural and cultured pearls will test the same. Thanks again everyone. Take care Phil
Posted: 11/3/2005 8:36:28 AM

P: 11/7/2005 8:44:11 AM
Red Beard Rough Rock Total Posts: 2 Last Post: 11/10/2005 Member Since: 10/30/2005	Hi Guys and Gals, first time poster. For seperation of natural and cultured you may want to try back lighting the strands. Cultured pearls usually contain a mother of pearl bead nucleus, and when lighted from the back and orientated properally you can see Candling, which is the banded structure of the shell bead nucleus. You may try this for fun, but i would still get a experts opinion. Red Beard
Posted: 11/7/2005 8:44:11 AM

P: 11/8/2005 12:30:19 PM
valeria101 Ideal Rock Total Posts: 14,048 Last Post: 4/30/2006 Member Since: 8/29/2003	Date: 11/7/2005 8:44:11 AM Author: Red Beard Hi Guys and Gals, first time poster. For seperation of natural and cultured you may want to try back lighting the strands. Hi! How strong or what kind of lighting have you tried? For some reason, it doesn't seem to work for me. Ana "The greatest experts are only as good as the sum total of what they have seen." [Souren Melikian]
Posted: 11/8/2005 12:30:19 PM

P: 11/10/2005 7:56:29 AM
Red Beard Rough Rock Total Posts: 2 Last Post: 11/10/2005 Member Since: 10/30/2005	Date: 11/8/2005 12:30:19 PM Author: valeria101 Date: 11/7/2005 8:44:11 AM Author: Red Beard Hi Guys and Gals, first time poster. For seperation of natural and cultured you may want to try back lighting the strands. Hi! How strong or what kind of lighting have you tried? For some reason, it doesn't seem to work for me. Hi Valeria I just use a little bendy pen torch, and back light one pearl at a time. It takes abit of playing around, wish i knew how to post pictures so i could show you what to look for. Hopefully in the next little bit i will learn, really fun posting instead of just reading.
Posted: 11/10/2005 7:56:29 AM

P: 11/10/2005 8:20:33 AM
valeria101 Ideal Rock Total Posts: 14,048 Last Post: 4/30/2006 Member Since: 8/29/2003	Date: 11/10/2005 7:56:29 AM Author: Red Beard Hi Valeria I just use a little bendy pen torch, and back light one pearl at a time. It takes a bit of playing around, wish i knew how to post pictures so i could show you what to look for. Hopefully in the next little bit i will learn, really fun posting instead of just reading. Pictures would be great! Thanks for the hint Ana "The greatest experts are only as good as the sum total of what they have seen." [Souren Melikian]
Posted: 11/10/2005 8:20:33 AM

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