Pearl beads are a gorgeous material for constructing beaded jewellery, especially something like a necklace or a bangle. However if you want to use real pearls for your jewellery rather than copies you need to know how to identify the difference so you do not get cheated as the cost of genuine pearl beads is much more than fake pearl beads.
Here are some simple ways that you can cross check if the pearls you are planning on buying are real or fake.
Rub the pearls together. This is maybe the best way of testing the authenticity of the pearls. Real pearls will feel coarse-grained when rubbed together as they have texture. If it is smooth then it's likely to be fake as this would imply that the beads have been covered with a pearl looking veneer.
The tooth test on a pearl bead is another way of testing if it is real or not. Simply rub the pearl against your teeth; it should feel like it has texture to it, if it doesn't then it is fake.
The scrape test; if the bead is made from real pearls then you should be able to gently scrape them with something with a sharp edge like a pair of scissors. If the pearl is genuine then it will not scratch the surface of it as the lustre of a genuine pearl goes right through all of the pearl and not just on the surface. This test is only recommended for fresh water pearls as sea pearls do not have the same density of lustre as fresh water pearls. If the pearl is not real this test will damage it so take care with this test if you plan on returning the pearl beads to the shop for a repayment.Shell beads that are sold as pearl beads can pass the rub test as they also have texture but they do not have the lustre that a real pearl bead does so will fail the scrape test. If you're jittery about doing the scrape test on a bead it may be a wise decision to ask a professional as they can identify a genuine pearl bead from a fake usually just by having a look at it.
Hopefully this post will help you spot the difference between genuine and fake pearl beads.
Here are some simple ways that you can cross check if the pearls you are planning on buying are real or fake.
Rub the pearls together. This is maybe the best way of testing the authenticity of the pearls. Real pearls will feel coarse-grained when rubbed together as they have texture. If it is smooth then it's likely to be fake as this would imply that the beads have been covered with a pearl looking veneer.
The tooth test on a pearl bead is another way of testing if it is real or not. Simply rub the pearl against your teeth; it should feel like it has texture to it, if it doesn't then it is fake.
The scrape test; if the bead is made from real pearls then you should be able to gently scrape them with something with a sharp edge like a pair of scissors. If the pearl is genuine then it will not scratch the surface of it as the lustre of a genuine pearl goes right through all of the pearl and not just on the surface. This test is only recommended for fresh water pearls as sea pearls do not have the same density of lustre as fresh water pearls. If the pearl is not real this test will damage it so take care with this test if you plan on returning the pearl beads to the shop for a repayment.Shell beads that are sold as pearl beads can pass the rub test as they also have texture but they do not have the lustre that a real pearl bead does so will fail the scrape test. If you're jittery about doing the scrape test on a bead it may be a wise decision to ask a professional as they can identify a genuine pearl bead from a fake usually just by having a look at it.
Hopefully this post will help you spot the difference between genuine and fake pearl beads.
About the Author:
Siffion Quaid has had an interest in bead jewelry for some time and where to buy beads. On his website are loads of articles talking about beads and plenty of tips like identifying real pearl beads.