| y"> | | | | iridescent fish scales. |
| Sometimes customers interested in buying pearls are | | | | If you are looking at a strand of pearls at an antique |
| concerned that they won't know the real thing from | | | | store or estate sale, look carefully at the drill holes. The |
| the imitation. Here are some tests to help you | | | | coating over imitation pearls will fade, chip or even |
| determine if you are looking at well-done "fakes" are | | | | discolor over time. You can easily see chips or flakes |
| genuine pearls. | | | | around drill holes. |
| The tooth test | | | | Warm versus cool |
| The tried-and-true method of determining if a pearl is | | | | An old wives' tale says that if you hold real pearls in |
| real is to rub it against your teeth. Real pearls will feel | | | | your hand, they'll be cool to the touch for several |
| slightly gritty and rough because of the layers of nacre | | | | seconds before warming up. This is not a sure-fire |
| than have formed over time. | | | | method to check for authenticity. |
| An imitation pearl will feel smooth and glasslike. That's | | | | The best way to guarantee you buy real pearls is to |
| because the imitations are made by dipping a plastic or | | | | always deal with a reputable pearl dealer. |
| glass bead into some sort of paint, sometimes including | | | | |