After the read of 3 Common Types of Imitation Pearls article, you will know about the three common types of imitation pearls and the difference between natural pearls and imitation pearls.
Pearl is a kind of precious organic gemstone with a long history. In the minds of people around the world, pearls have been known as the stone of health and longevity reputation.
What are imitation pearls made of?
Imitation pearls are man-made faux pearls. They are not to be confused with cultured pearls, which are real pearls created through human intervention.
Materials used to create imitation pearls include glass, plastic, and oyster pearl shells. As an alternative, some plastic pearls are coated with a pearlescent substance to imitate the natural iridescence of nacre or mother-of-pearl.
Artificial pearls are fake pearls, artificial pearls refers to the artificial processing of synthetic fake pearls or artificial pearl is very similar to imitation pearl.
Merchants can electroplat colors on the outer layer of the shell pearls, such as silver white, gold, malachite green, peacock blue, ocean blue, rich purple, jet black, etc.
The imitation pearls will emit a luster similar to fish scales, that is, they will have a rainbow-like appearance like pearls. Bloom colors to achieve the effect of “fish eyes mixed with pearls”.
Most of the artificial pearls on the market for the following five categories: wax-filled glass imitation beads, solid glass imitation beads, plastic-plated imitation beads, mother-of-pearl imitation beads, and shellac synthetic beads.
The three common types of imitation pearls are introduced.
ABS plastic imitation pearls
ABS resin is one of the five synthetic resins, its impact resistance, heat resistance, low-temperature resistance, and excellent electrical properties, but also has easy processing, product size stability, good surface gloss and other characteristics, and easy to paint, and coloring. Easy to fall off the skin, is the cheapest of the artificial pearls, and the use time is not long.
ABS plastic imitation pearl is our general all plastic beads, through the dyeing process, colorful are available. Poor feel in itself, with no texture, no weight, more lightweight.
Glass Pearls
Glass pearls are round beads made from glass embryos, usually wrapped with a layer of pearlescent lacquer on the outside, and the lacquer can be colorful.
The luster of glass pearls is better than that of plastic pearls, but the skin of the beads will fall off if they rub against each other or if deliberately scrape the skin with a knife. The weight itself is much heavier than plastic, the texture is better, and the sound of collision is much louder.
Shellac synthetic pearls
Shellac synthetic pearls are pressed with pearl powder or polished with mother-of-pearl. Shell pearls are generally used to make large pendants, with a large diameter, usually more than 12 mm, positively rounded, and are an imitation of natural pearls, shellac synthetic pearls.
Shellac synthetic pearls and real pearls look similar, but identification is also very easy, the outside of the shell pearls have a layer of transparent film wrapped, which can not be seen, but drop it hard to the ground or scrape it with a razor blade, that layer of film will be destroyed and revealed.
Natural pearls vs. imitation pearls
Because the pearl is a natural creature, so the shape of the pearl no two are exactly the same, the difference between natural pearls and imitation pearls can be taken over the pearls for careful comparison, if a string of pearls is the same shape, then the string of pearls must be fake, absolutely machine-made processing.
Natural pearl color, shape, and size will not be exactly the same. The color of synthetic imitation pearls is dead, looks dull, and will not be as irregular as real pearls.
Natural pearls are very refreshing to the hand and cool to the touch when it’s hot.
Synthetic imitation pearls will not have this feeling when touching, but also feel sticky and slippery, if it is pure glass made of fake pearls of specific gravity greater than the pearl, if it is filled with waxed glass made of fake pearls, specific gravity is about half of the real pearl.
What are the differences between natural pearls and imitation pearls?
Shape differences
Natural pearls are naturally formed, the shape is not necessarily round, but more vivid. In artificially cultured pearls, the general kernel is more round, so after shaping, the appearance is also round pearls, slightly dull.
Size Differences
There are no two pearls in the world that are exactly the same size, every strand of pearls will have a slight deviation in size.
Simulated pearls, because they are man-made, are easier to shape than natural pearls, so when you look closely at a strand of simulated pearl necklace, you will find that the size of each bead will be very consistent, which is not the case with natural pearl strands.
Color differences
The color of shell pearls is electroplated, so it will give an unnatural feeling, even if the chemical substances are added again, the sense of color will be more solid and dull.
On the other hand, the color of natural pearls will be more translucent, and in addition to the body color and halo, there will be accompanying colors such as metallic luster.
Luster differences
Natural pearls are formed over a longer period of time and have a fine texture, high transparency, and better luster, while artificially cultured pearls have a shorter period of time, a loose texture, and less luster.
Structure differences
Natural pearls are formed spontaneously in the body of mollusks, with a kernel of quartz particles or other substances, while the kernel of artificial pearls is artificially made.
Weight differences
Imitation pearls are made of plastic beads with a layer of pearl powder or film electroplated on the outside, while real pearls have a nacre layer, which is formed by secreting nacre surrounding the core inside and has a certain weight;
Imitation pearls are imitation handicrafts, and their density is smaller than that of pearls. Therefore, if you find pearls and synthetic pearls in the same way, synthetic pearls will feel light and airy.
Hole Differences
The first thing synthetic pearls have in common is that because they are made in molds, they are all round in shape, and the holes are usually very large and full.
The shape of natural pearls is generally not a fine round grain, the pearl hole is generally about 1.0mm, from the pearl hole can be seen in the nacreous layer.
Pearl surface differences
Synthetic pearls will wear out or lose their skin when they are rubbed or scraped with a knife.
The natural pearl a knife can scrape the pearl powder scraped off the pearl powder, wipe down the surface of the pearl with your hand, and the skin of the real pearl that was not scraped before is the same.
Imitation pearl maintenance methods
1. Pay attention to the preservation
Pearls in maintenance, pay attention to preservation, it is recommended to put the pearls in a jewelry box or with a sealed bag, to avoid contact between the pearls and other jewelry, to a certain extent, to ensure the quality of pearls.
2. Keep drying
Pearls in maintenance, to dry from time to time, pearls need to breathe fresh air, otherwise there will be a yellowing phenomenon, in the drying, avoid direct exposure of pearls to the sun, otherwise it will cause the inside to lose moisture, resulting in deterioration.
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