Natural and cultured pearls are real pearls, whereas faux -- or false pearls are not.



A pearl, like coral, is an organic gem because it comes from a living source. Unlike other gems, pearls do not need to be polished or cut: they are perfect straight out of the mollusk. The technique for growing a natural pearl and a cultured, or cultivated, pearl is the same: the first occurs in nature, and the second, with human intervention.



The tooth test really works. Cultured pearls will feel slightly
gritty whereas false or faux pearls will feel perfectly smooth.

These days, natural pearls are hard to find, and very expensive. Cultured pearls, however, come in a variety of shapes, colors, sizes, and prices.

Should I Buy Larger or High Luster Pearls?

When choosing your cultured pearl jewelry, always prefer high luster and thick nacre over size of the pearl. Thick nacre which in turn imparts high luster are two of the most desirable characteristics of a fine pearl. High luster and thick nacre will serve you well by complementing and highlighting skin tones, and ensuring value for generations.

What is Iridescence?

Iridescence or orient is the play of colors over the pearl surface. Often irregularly shaped pearls have high iridescence simply because the nacre sits in the little crannies and nooks of the pearl surface.

Larger, Rounder Pearls = More Expensive

Fine pearls require at least two to three years of cultivation inside a mollusk which explains why larger pearls are more valuable than comparable smaller ones.

See the Maurice Goldman collection of cultured pearl jewelry.

Submitted by
Judith Isaacson
GIA Pearl Gemologist