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Those who want to buy pearl stones, like other gemstones in general, often worry about whether the stones to be acquired are original, natural, or fake and imitation, which can be confirmed by doing a number of tests that are divided To simple, easy tests that you can do yourself in a few minutes, with simple tools and advanced tests that require skill, tools and special devices that are only available in gem testing laboratories and at some famous jewelry stores. In the following lines, we will show you a number of simple tests that you can do to help you find out whether the stone is genuine or fake as follows.
Ways and means of identifying natural pearl stones
1- Examination of minor defects in the stone
Genuine pearls are rarely “flawless”, as these stones usually have small imperfections in their setting. The outer shell layer may show a different tint from some of the different parts of the pearl. In contrast, imitation pearls look “very perfect without any flaws”. It is perfectly spherical, has the same luster on every part of the stone’s surface, and has virtually no blemishes. Although flawless round genuine pearls are rare but possible to exist, however, not only these types of pearl necklace will be made. So finding a necklace made of pearl stones with the same degree of smoothness and round shape is sure to be fake and the stones are imitation and not original.
2- Checking the degree of glossiness
(Shining is one of the ways a jeweler uses to describe the type and degree of light reflected from precious stones. The degree of luster is also part of what makes a pearl stone beautiful. Quality pearls should also have a pure luster that makes them sparkle when exposed to light. And if you look closely, you will be able to see your reflection on the surface of the pearl. However, we encountered a problem with this test; It is low quality pearl stones that usually have a faint chalky luster, so they may look like imitation stones even though they are genuine.
3- Check the color inversion
Genuine pearls are often expensive due to the light color reflected off the stone which is the translucent color that is visible on the surface of the stone when exposed to light. This color is limited to the original stone, as imitation stones do not contain this reflected light. Thus if the stones are slightly shaded in color when exposed to light, there is a good chance that these stones are genuine. It is worth noting that pink and ivory are the most preferred inverted colors for white pearls, however there is a wide range of colors that can be reflected, especially for black pearls. Since some genuine stones do not contain inverted color light, not seeing this light is not necessarily a sure sign that the stone is imitation.
The appearance of a natural pearl stone jewelry
4- Examine the holes drilled in the stone
Pearls knotted into a rope or necklace usually have holes drilled in them to allow the rope to pass through. Examining that hole carefully can help you tell if the pearl is genuine or imitation. Here you will look for certain things including: The hole edges are clear and defined, since the original stones usually had sharp-edged holes (such as a hollow cylinder). As for imitation stones; They often have jagged and rounded edges. However, the old original stones also have rounded edges around the hole. Imitation stones may also curve forward on the surface of the pearl rather than being completely cylindrical. As for the holes with chipped paint or around which you find paint, they indicate that they are imitation stones. When these non-genuine stones are rubbed together with a repeated movement, the artificial coating will be removed from the drilled hole. You may also be able to see shards of glass or plastic underneath. This is a sure sign that they are imitation stones.
5- Look in the hole for a line Spacer between shell and core
The original stone always had an outer layer of nacre , while imitation stones have a thin layer of synthetic nacre or lack that layer completely formed. If the pearl has a drilled hole, you can check the shell by looking with a magnifying glass. And genuine pearls usually (but not always) have a prominent line separating the nacre from the nucleus (the inner part of the pearl). (How a pearl stone is formed)
You can do any of these basic tests, but you should avoid numerous others, such as the “burning test,” as some sites claim that exposing the pearl to flames would reveal whether it is authentic or fake. The dummy test indicates that the counterfeit stone will burn or melt, however the genuine pearl will not be impacted. However, just as fake stones are badly impacted by fire, so are genuine stones.
