How to Tell If Pearls Are Real

Gently rub a pearl along the edge of your front teeth. Real pearls feel slightly gritty or sandy because of their layered nacre; glass and plastic fakes feel perfectly smooth. Clean the pearl first and don't bite.

Rub two pearls gently together. Real pearls feel gritty and may leave a faint, fine powder that wipes off without damage. Fakes slide smoothly against each other.

Real pearls, even cultured ones, show slight differences in shape, size, and color across a strand, and tiny surface marks. A strand of perfectly identical, flawless, round beads is often a simulation.

Real pearls have deep, mirror-like luster with soft overtones of pink, green, or silver that seem to glow from inside. Fakes look flat, glassy, or plasticky, with even, painted-on shine.

Look at the drill holes with a loupe. Real pearls usually have crisp holes, sometimes showing nacre layers. Fake pearls often show flaking, chipped, or peeled coating around the hole, revealing glass or plastic underneath.

Real pearls feel cool at first and pleasantly heavy; plastic feels light and warm. Quality real strands are usually knotted between every pearl and finished with a gold or silver clasp stamped 14K, 18K, or 925.