Real Black Pearl In Shell

The colors are completely natural.

Real black pearl in shell.

While observing pearls under a magnifier specialists can easily tell whether they are a fake or a real gem. In general if the surface is grainy the pearl is real and if the texture is eggshell like with a rugged look the pearl is an imitation. A surprisingly effective fix for knowing if pearls are real is to drop a pearl onto glass and measure the bounce. This black lipped oyster shell with its lustrous colouring is world renowned.

A cultured pearl is a real pearl grown in a shellfish or mollusk. Although often referred to as black pearls their colors range from gray to green and even aubergine. Instead of waiting for an irritant like a piece of sand or small rock to enter the shell they are seeded by hand and in large quantities using a bit of shell from a sacrificed mollusk. Designers use the black mother of pearl shells for interior decoration in the form of tiles and paneling also in the fashion industry for high end jewellery or pearl shell buttons.

While often smaller than south sea pearls tahitian pearls can also grow quite large with average sizes ranging from 8 to 14 millimeters. A real pearl should bounce about 13 or 14 inches high whereas an imitation pearl s bounce will typically be much lower. Position the pearl about 24 inches above a glass surface such as a mirror or coffee table and let it drop. Tahitian pearls require no treatments to attain their dark iridescence.