Joined: Sat Aug 25, 2012 3:45 am Posts: 134 Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Hi everyone,
I've heard that there are "synthetic south sea pearls" in market, made up of pearl debris left during the pearl drilling and jewelry making process. The manufacturers collect these powdery materials, and fuse them up to form "pearls" which look like the genuine pearls.......
I've never see one of such products before....is this real? And if it is, anyone here knows how to identify such products from the genuine south sea pearls at field?
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm Posts: 21602 Location: San Francisco
I don't think we can use the adjective "synthetic" here.....they would be imitation. South Sea Pearls are cultured, therefore "drill debris" would be predominately irritant material.
Joined: Tue Jan 29, 2008 8:55 am Posts: 236 Location: Paris - France
Hi,
I've never heard of, neither seen such a "pearl" but I am wondering if they result really of a melting process. How can they have the same luster than natural/cultured pearls as this luster is the result of the layers of nacre the oyster disposed on the nucleus? Or are they melting the stuff and then wrap it in very fine multi-layers around a central part?
Would be interesting to know more about this process.
If it is really just melting, I suppose the teeth-test works as there are no layers and the pearl will be smooth under your teeth.
Joined: Fri Oct 12, 2007 10:22 pm Posts: 1117 Location: Virginia
These are called shell pearls by bead dealers. They are very common - run about $10 - $15 per strand and up. Made in colors to "imitate" south sea pearls - many are sold as multicolor strands.
They are heavier than natural pearls. You can see the distinction between the core and the coating (and some of the cheapest ones are just layers of paint sprayed on) at the holes. The higher quality will have a "gem grade" or "AAA" surface - which should be a tip off for the price. They will be perfectly round. They have no depth to the color - no "orient" the way a real pearl does.
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Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2006 1:20 am Posts: 2756 Location: Southern California, U.S.A.
Could you possibly be thinking of so-called Majorica Pearls, the trade-name for imitation pearls made in Majorca that use powdered fish scales to simulate pearl orient/iridescence?
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