Pearl Jewelry Guide

Pearl Jewelry FAQs

What is the difference between cultured pearls and natural pearls?

Both cultured pearls and natural pearls are real pearls produced by marine and freshwater mollusks. The difference is natural pearls are produced with no human intervention, where cultured pearls are more consistently produced with human aid and farmed cultivation.

How can I differentiate fake pearls?

When you purchase cultured pearls from a jeweler, asking for a certificate of authenticity is a good way to make sure your pearls are real. If you want to test pearl jewelry you already own, you can check if your pearls are real with a few simple at-home tests:

Real pearls will feel cool to the touch and feel heavier when held
Real pearls have some texture, while fake pearls are entirely smooth
Fake pearls will be overly uniform in both shape and color "

How can I tell the quality of the pearl jewelry?

If you are serious about finding the exact value of your pearls, requesting an assessment from a professional jewelry is the best way to get an accurate appraisal of quality. To the untrained eye, the clearest hallmark of quality for pearls is their luster, but the size, shape, and color variation can factor into overall quality.