Pearl: look-alikes and how to tell
Short answer
Pearl is commonly confused with glass beads with pearl essence, plastic, shell pearl ("Majorica").
Natural or cultured (X-ray only), and nacre thickness.
Look-alikes
- glass beads with pearl essence
- plastic
- shell pearl ("Majorica")
What to look at
At the drill hole: flaking coating or a glass rim means imitation. Identical shapes and sizes and a perfect surface too. Real pearls differ from one another.
What settles it
- Rubbed very gently against a tooth, a pearl feels gritty and an imitation glides. It is only a hint (some imitations feel gritty too) and do not insist: rubbing can mark the nacre.
- 10× loupe at the drill hole.
- Natural or cultured: laboratory X-ray.
Frequently asked
What can pearl be mistaken for?
glass beads with pearl essence; plastic; shell pearl ("Majorica").
How can I tell pearl from its look-alikes?
Rubbed very gently against a tooth, a pearl feels gritty and an imitation glides. It is only a hint (some imitations feel gritty too) and do not insist: rubbing can mark the nacre. 10× loupe at the drill hole. Natural or cultured: laboratory X-ray.