To tell if pearls are real, you can use several simple tests and observations:
At-Home Tests
- Tooth Test: Gently rub the pearl against the edge of your front teeth. Real pearls feel slightly gritty or rough due to their layered nacre, while fake pearls feel smooth or glassy
- Surface Inspection: Real pearls have tiny surface irregularities like ridges or bumps, and slight imperfections. Fake pearls tend to be perfectly smooth and uniform
- Luster Check: Real pearls reflect light with a deep, rich, and almost three-dimensional glow. Fake pearls often have a flat, glassy shine lacking depth
- Color and Overtone: Real pearls often show subtle color variations or overtones (like hints of pink or green), whereas fake pearls usually have a uniform color without depth
- Temperature Test: Real pearls feel cool to the touch initially and warm up against your skin. Fake pearls, especially plastic ones, feel warm right away
- Weight Test: Real pearls tend to be heavier than plastic imitations due to their density
- Bounce Test: When dropped from about two feet onto a glass surface, real pearls tend to bounce slightly, while fakes may not
Professional or More Technical Tests
- Magnification: Using a jeweler's loupe or microscope, real pearls show natural crystalline structure and surface flaws; fake pearls appear smooth and uniform
- Ultraviolet Light: Real pearls may fluoresce slightly under UV light, while fake pearls generally do not or show unnatural glow
- Refractometer Test: Measures how light passes through the pearl, useful for precise identification
- Chemical Test: Real pearls made of calcium carbonate react with vinegar by producing bubbles (carbon dioxide), while fake pearls do not
Additional Tips
- Check the drill holes: Real pearls have clean drill holes; fake pearls often show chipped or peeling coating around the holes
- Real pearls are rarely perfectly round or identical; uniformity suggests imitation
If you want absolute certainty, have the pearls examined by a professional jeweler or gemologist who can perform detailed analyses. In summary, the easiest at-home method is the tooth test combined with close visual inspection for surface texture, luster, and color variation
