I inherited pearls, and while there is so much great information, it's hard to make a call regarding these pearls!

[inheritedpearl24]

I inherited these pearls from my 100 year old Great- Grandmother. They're very pretty, and I could care less as to if they are real or imitations, I am just curious as to what these may be!

 

[A Breaker]

Great pearl tests: gently rub 2 pearls together from your strand... Do they feel like fine sandpaper? or grip? (rub gently both ways) then they are gritty real pearls. If they mostly slide well (sometimes the paint makes them "sticky") then they are painted faux pearls. Finally, with clean pearls, try them against you teeth....gritty? = real. Also look at the drill holes to see if they is paint build-up or loss. My guess is that they are faux... but the value in faux is condition & brand name on the clasp. Hope that helps some.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Definitely look like imitation pearls.

Re: tooth test, I have recently stopped suggesting people test pearls by rubbing them on their teeth. Teeth are harder than nacre and can scratch it. Best to just rub one pearl against another-- gently.

 

[LorenLL]

I guess they are imitations. The drill holes looks somewhat larger than that of typical genuine pearls and the area surrounding the drill holes of each pearls are every-so-slightly flattened, but then it could be the camera angle and/or reflections, and I'm still very new in collecting pearls.

 

[CortezPearls]

You could also use a long-wave UV lamp. Place the pearls inside a black bag, alongside one true pearl...the real pearl will GLOW (actually, it will fluoresce) BLUE if it is a white pearl. The faux pearls will simply look "dead" (no soul).