eBay - is this a freshwater pearl or faux?

[Blossy]

I know it's not South Sea, but was wondering if its a real pearl at all?

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com.au/viewitem?itemId=151054307471&index=0&nav=BIDDING&nid=26985174259

I thought I might like a simple pendant in this colour to wear with a chain I have.

 

[pattye]

Hard to say. Chinese seller, all pearls say South Sea and Akoya?????? NOT!

 

[Blossy]

I just bought one. For the princely sum of $10 I'll take a punt.

I'm not sure if its a dyed freshwater, a natural coloured freshwater, or an imitation pearl. Also not sure if its 14kt as stamped either.

Oh well, cheap and cheerful until I can afford one I know is actually real...

 

[pattye]

Let us know when you think when you receive it! It will be a fun pendant to wear, even if it isn't a pearl. My guess from the sellers photo would be dyed freshwater.

 

[Blossy]

I was thinking that too, but I guess I was expecting to see some blemishing. If it turns up with none, then perhaps it's faux.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

I see a small blemish in the last photo in the listing, at the bottom of the page (unless it's a reflection.)

Dyed freshwater is my guess. It's awfully yellow for a natural color.
Can't be gold at that price.

But it looks like cute pendant nonetheless, and didn't cost a lot. Probably solid nacre so should last a long time. Enjoy!

 

[Blossy]

I can see the gold is stamped but I don't know if its plated or just an outright lie.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Chinese sellers have long been known on eBay boards for selling gold plated metal as gold, and the seller is not going to make any money by underselling real gold, so....my vote is for "lie".

I do not mean to call every Chinese seller dishonest, mind you...I'm sure some are honest. But an honest seller I buy from now sells her pearls with gold plated clasps, and calls them such.

 

[AWeng]

Not sure which pendant you were referring to but, the first one I see is 16mm WHITE South Sea Shell Pearl PENDANT 14kt GOLD 1/20.
There's a trick in the title: "South Sea Shell". What I see here is a "shell pearl", made from the inner lining of the oyster/mollusk. It wasn't produced by an oyster/mollusk on its own, but rather, made in this round shape by humans. The way the seller put "south" before "sea shell" is trying to gain the impression that this piece is a south sea pearl, which is completely a different thing. Shell pearls cost only a bit higher than glass/plastic pearls because it's made from the same oyster shell. However, it did not go through the layer-forming processes that the so-called "real pearls" do. Shell pearls can usually achieve high luster because it's man-processed.

 

[pattye]

Somehow the link to the pendant that was in the original post has been replaced by the listing of the huge imitation pearl. The pearl Blossy purchased was a smaller oval golden color pearl, that cost $10.

Thank you for pointing this out, AWeng. Yes, the new description is misleading, I agree and doesn't state clearly that it is an imitation pearl.

Pearl Dreams, did you notice the item linked to by the OP has now changed?

 

[pearlescence]

It's because it is a fairly old listing in eBay - so the link takes you to the current south sea pendant items and that pendant is top of those listings
It does say clearly it is a shell pearl in the listing. Short of saying 'fake white pearl pendant' can we ask more?
Even the misleading word faux gets used on this forum instead of fake. There was a long thread about it years ago

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Yes, the original photo was of a smaller yellow pearl.

"Faux" means false or fake in French, Wendy-- why is it misleading?

 

[pearlescence]

Faux is misleading because we speak english and because it is a use of a french word to make glamorous and disguise the fakeness.
Did you know that alcantara leather is fake leather? Would you pay quite as much for car seats made from fake leather as you would for alcantara leather upholstry?

 

[Pearl Dreams]

But I've never heard of "alcantara" whereas "faux" is in common usage, and has been for a long time.

However, I think "imitation" is better. No mistaking that.

 

[pearlescence]

I'd be perfectly happy with imitation.

 

[AWeng]

Faux is misleading because we speak english and because it is a use of a french word to make glamorous and disguise the fakeness.
Did you know that alcantara leather is fake leather? Would you pay quite as much for car seats made from fake leather as you would for alcantara leather upholstry?

wow...I didn't know that alcantara is fake leather! That means Louis Vuitton used fake leather inside its Multicolore line? It's bag body is fake enough...coated canvas! And it's priced in thousands! :S Thx Pearlescence... I will never buy multicolore LOL!

 

[pearlescence]

yup!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcantara_(material)