|
Want to know if you've got the real thing? Rub the strand across the front of your upper teeth. It may sound strange, but according to Learn2.com, real pearls will feel rough or gritty while fake ones will feel smooth. This is due to the micropores found on the genuine article. Imitation pearls are usually made by dipping a glass or plastic bead into a solution of fish scales. The coating is generally fairly thin and will chip over time. Check the pearls for tiny chips or flakes near the hole drilled through them. If you see chips, chances are your pearls are fake. Try holding the pearls in your
hand for a minute. HowToEverything.com states that real pearls will feel cold initially, then will warm. Real pearls can be either natural or cultured. Natural pearls are formed when a mollusk secretes a substance called nacre to coat an irritant that makes its way inside the animal's shell. Cultured pearls are formed with a little human help -- an irritant is purposely introduced into the shell of the animal. You usually need an x-ray or an expert to distinguish between natural and cultured pearls.
|
