Natural and cultured pearls: choosing jewellery

Natural, cultured or imitation?

Natural pearls form without human initiation. Cultured pearls form in molluscs with human assistance; they are distinct from imitation beads. Akoya, South Sea, Tahitian and freshwater pearls vary widely in quality.

Look at the whole piece

Compare lustre, surface, shape, size, colour and matching across a strand. Baroque shapes are not automatically defects. Check clasp and thread condition and seek an appropriate report for important historic or high-value pieces.

Gentle care

Avoid aggressive chemicals, steam and ultrasonic cleaning. Store carefully and ask about restringing when thread becomes worn. Do not bite or scratch a pearl to test it; those methods can damage jewellery and do not provide reliable identification.