How can I make sure that my cultured pearls are real?

Although cultured pearls are not quite natural pearls, they are still formed in nature, meaning that they are still real pearls. The main distinguishing factor between natural pearls and cultured pearls is what initiates the growth process as well as the breadth of the nacre (the layers of the pearl which give the pearl its luster). The larger the size of natural pearls the rarer they are. Cultured pearls usually have a mother of pearl at their center. The core of the pearl is placed in an oyster where layers of nacre coat it forming the pearl. The center of the gem is the main determining factor when it comes to the form of the pearl. The longer the mollusk has to allow the pearl to develop, the thicker the nacre, and the thicker the nacre, the better the pearl. The most fruitful of conditions for the ultimate pearl include thick nacre and a silky surface.


Pearls that grow within an oyster feel rough against the tooth, while fake pearls usually do not. To determine whether your pearl necklace is real or fake you can try to rub or tap a pearl from the piece of jewelry on one of your front teeth, if it feels rough than it's real (due to the nacre layers that have developed in the oyster over time, real pearls have a rough exterior), if it's silky smooth then the pearl is fake. This is due to the fact that fake pearls are often made of plastic and coated with a form of paint that makes it look like a pearl, at least to the naked eye. Another way to find out whether or not your pearl necklace is real or not is simply by holding them. If you hold real pearls for a few seconds they will feel rather cold before they begin to heat up. Real pearls can heat up a lot quicker than fake pearls once they touch the skin. Meanwhile, fake pearls are rather warm right away. However, this method is trickier and less conclusive.

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