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How to Tell Real Pearls from Fake at Home
Two Quick & Easy Tests You Can Do Yourself
Pearls are timeless, elegant, and often treasured for life — but how can you be sure the ones you have (or are about to buy) are the real deal?
Real pearls are expensive. The small seed pearls (1-2mm diameter) that are studded on the metal in our jewelry, come at anywhere between 10 to 20x the price of pure silver at wholesale prices (a packet containing lakhs of them). Decent quality beads using in hangings and strings too come for 2-5x the price of silver !
While there are many professional methods to test pearls, we’ll show you just two super simple tests you can try at home with no special tools.
Test #1: The Acetone Test
What you need: Nail polish remover (100% acetone)
Real pearls are made of layers of natural nacre. Fake pearls, especially plastic or coated glass ones, commonly called "shell pearls", are often coated with synthetic materials to imitate the shimmer of nacre.
How to do it:
- Dab a bit of acetone (like nail polish remover) on a cotton swab.
- Gently rub it on the surface of the pearl, or drop a small amount directly on it.
Results:
- If the pearl dissolves, discolors, or the surface appears damaged, it's fake.
- If nothing happens, and it retains its luster — that's a good sign it’s real.
Test #2: Inspect the Drill Hole
If you have a pearl bead, look closely at the hole where the string enters.
Here’s what to look for:
- Real pearls will show clean, crisp edges at the drill hole, and you might see slight chipping or flaking of nacre around the edge — a good sign of authenticity.
- Fake pearls often have perfectly smooth, plastic-like holes, and the coating may even look like it’s been painted on.
You can use a magnifying glass or just your phone’s camera zoom for a closer look.
In Summary
If you're unsure whether your pearls are real, just remember:
- Acetone Test – If it dissolves, it’s fake.
- Drill Hole Check – Clean edges and chipped nacre usually mean real.
Still unsure? A quick visit to a trusted jeweler can confirm it for you.
Stay informed, and shop smart!
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