Yes, pearls can chip or peel because they are relatively soft (Mohs hardness 2.5-4.5) and their outer nacre layer is delicate, making them vulnerable to impacts, scratches from harder materials, and damage from chemicals, acids, perfumes, and even drying out, which causes brittleness and peeling, especially with lower-quality pearls or poor care. High-quality pearls with thick nacre (like many freshwater pearls) are more durable, but all pearls need proper care to prevent surface damage and maintain luster.
Drill hole check: crisp edges, very fine chipping and visible internal layers signal real pearls. Fake may have dye build up or melted plastic appearance around drill hole.
Mix up some 2 part epoxy. I use Epoxy 330. Use a toothpick to get some in the hole. Apply a thin layer to the bottom of the pearl and on the cup. Set pearl back in place and gently clamp it down. A rubber band will work well for this. Let it sit for 24 hours. Done.
Pearl is ranked 2.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, which means it's very soft and easily scratched or abraded.
Pearls can be scratched by harder minerals such as diamonds and other gemstones, also other jewellery such as necklace clasps, earring backs etc. A soft pouch is much more preferable to a plastic bag, if the environment is kept too dry this can dehydrate the pearls, eventually causing peeling and cracking of the nacre.
Imitation pearls might have a magnetic core, but genuine pearls are made from organic material that does not respond to magnets.
Pearls can age because they are made of biological materials. They might lose their shine, peel, or break down over time. Pearl jewelry, on the other hand, can keep its beauty and shape for hundreds of years if it is stored and cared for properly. Wearing pearl jewelry is probably the best way to keep it in good shape.
Yes, but only with a very soft cloth very gently and in a limited way. Lustre, the main beautifying quality of a pearl, depends on the play of light that goes through the tiny layers of nacre on each pearl. Pearls aren't like hard gemstones where you can buff out scratches and make them “new” again.
The sad reality is that old, second-hand cultured pearls aren't worth a lot. There's no obvious place to sell them and you won't get much from a jeweller or by putting them on eBay. Our advice is to keep them as a memento or give them to someone who'll appreciate them.
Microscopic Analysis. A jeweler may also use a microscope to examine the pearl's surface and internal structure. Under magnification, the natural crystalline structure of nacre is visible in real pearls, while fake pearls will lack this texture.
In water, pearls do not float.
It was Jackie Kennedy who said 'pearls are always appropriate,' meaning that they suit all occasions and all outfits. Indeed pearls are still worn by many brides on their wedding days and feature in most jewellers' windows today.
Pearl earrings can get wet occasionally, but they don't like it. Repeated exposure to water will shorten their life and dull their shine. Pearls are organic gemstones made from layers of nacre. That nacre is both delicate and slightly porous.
Even though pearls are softer than most other gemstones (with a Mohs hardness of 2.5–4.5), they benefit from frequent wear. Pearls are delicate on the surface but also compact, so they can be scratched but cannot be easily cracked or crushed.
Experts warn that moisture can seep into the pearls' porous nacre, weakening their structure, causing layers to swell or separate, and quickly dulling their natural luster. Even routine activities like showering or washing hands can expose pearls to minerals and proteins that may stain or damage their surface.
Who Should Avoid Pearl? Pearl may not suit everyone. People with strong or negative Mars, Saturn, or Rahu in their horoscope should avoid wearing pearls. Pearl also doesn't go well with gemstones like Gomed (Hessonite), Lehsunia (Cat's Eye), or Neelam (Blue Sapphire).
Specifically, keep toothpaste away from your pearls and opals. The toothpaste will cause them to lose their color and shine.
The problem is that once your pearls have become damaged or your pearls are peeling, they cannot be repaired. The only thing you can do now is to replace the ones that are damaged.
The real ones are not perfect. They are not perfectly round and they do not have a perfectly smooth surface. They often have various "grooved rings" all the way around them, numerous small dimples, they differ in size, and if you look at them under a magnifying glass, you will often see the structure of the nacre.
Another way to check if your pearls are real is to submerge them in vinegar. If they are real, the pearls will form bubbles due to the chemical reaction of vinegar acid and calcium carbonate which is the primary chemical that a real pearl is made of.
Rub the pearls to check surface feel
Both natural and cultured pearls have textured surface due to their layered nacre structure. So when you rub the pearls lightly against each other or on your front teeth, they feel a little gritty. Fake or imitation pearls, however, usually feel smooth or glassy.
A pearl will not burn or scorch. It also won't give off much of a smell. However, if the imitation pearl is made from glass, wax or plastic, you'll see a scorch mark and it will smell like burning plastic.