To tell if old pearls are real, perform simple tests: rub them against your tooth (real ones feel gritty, fakes smooth). Real pearls feel cool to the touch initially, are heavier, and show minor surface imperfections and layered "onion-skin" texture under magnification, while fakes are perfectly smooth, lighter (plastic), or uniformly cool (glass). A jeweler can provide definitive answers, especially with X-rays.
In water, pearls do not float.
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.
The most expensive pearl colors are often deep, rich hues like Golden South Sea (especially 24k deep gold), rare Peacock Tahitian (dark green/blue/purple overtones), and intensely pink or pink-overtoned White South Sea pearls, with value heavily depending on rarity, luster, size, and lack of blemishes, rather than just the base color itself. While white and black are common, specific, saturated, and rare overtones within these categories command the highest prices.
Generally, you can expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $200 for a professional appraisal. Insurance appraisals are generally more expensive because they must be done by a certified gemologist and include a more detailed report.
Imitation pearls might have a magnetic core, but genuine pearls are made from organic material that does not respond to magnets.
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.
How To Tell If Pearls Are Real
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.
Friction Tests:
Hold the pearls in your fingers, and gently rub them against each other. A true pearl will create friction with another due to the grainy, imperfect surface. Fakes, on the other hand, will easily glide past each other due to their artificial coatings.
At-Home Tests
Gently rub the pearl against the edge of your front teeth. A real pearl will feel slightly gritty or rough due to the layers of nacre, while a fake pearl will feel smooth or glassy.
Yes—real pearls can yellow over time as nacre, a porous bioceramic, slowly oxidizes and exchanges moisture and ions with its environment. These changes alter light refraction within nacre layers, warming the pearl's body color and softening its overtones.
Check the Clasp: A real pearl necklace will have a sturdy clasp that is securely attached to the necklace. High-quality clasps are often made from precious metals and are designed to last.
“A woman needs ropes and ropes of pearls.” - Coco Chanel.
The last time the choker was publicly seen was when the princess attended the Met Gala in New York in December 1996. It has not been seen or exhibited since, and now belongs to Prince William and Prince Harry.
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). If you're unsure, always get your horoscope checked before wearing a pearl stone.
A necklace of true pearls will be strung on silk or high-quality microfiber and each pearl will be separated by tiny knots.
Over the past few years, the price of freshwater pearls has been steadily rising, with a rapid increase starting in 2022, resulting in a price surge of 30-40%.
Whether the pearls are cultured, freshwater, or natural, restringing can enhance the durability and beauty of these pieces.
A pearl necklace can cost as little as $10 and as much as $100,000. That's a huge range, and it's affected by factors like pearl type and rarity, pearl quality, size, color and shape.