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Have a look at ROLAY on Etsy and their other store ROLAY Deasign: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ROLAY?section_id=33811592 https://www.etsy.com/shop/ROLAYdesign?section_id=28322103 This is the same seller as Pearl Society Online (formerly pearl_society) on eBay. I have bought repeatedly from them...

The brownish matter that appears blue through the layers of clear nacre is exuded by the gonad when it is cut open to insert the bead. It coats the nucleus, and the clear nacre is laid over it. If the nacre is thin, the pearl will look tan instead of bluish.

Bottom line: buy from a reliable seller.

Yes, they are fake, no doubt about it.

Cool akoya necklace! No idea about its origin though.

Interesting question. I don't know the answer, but am curious about how you know it was made in the USA?

Those eggy shapes drilled perpendicular to the long diameter are dead giveaway for freshwaters.

Interesting! I did not know that. I have to admit the oxidized look is not for me, but I can see why some would like it.

Hi and welcome to Pearl Guide! They are dyed freshwater pearls from China. Freshwater pearls don't come in that color naturally. These are inexpensive pearls, but the silver flower is gorgeous! How do you plan to get the tarnish off?

To me they look like baroque freshwater pearls from China. They are cultured, but instead of a bead inside to make them round, a bit of mantle tissue was used. If that is the case, they do not have a high value, other than sentimental. Mind you if they are natural pearls they would be...

Hi and welcome to Pearl Guide! They are real, cultured freshwater pearls from China. Unfortunately baroque freshwater pearls are the most common pearls out there, and those are low quality. The clasp appears to be base metal and the clear beads and split ring are also low end. But you say you...

Welcome to Pearl Guide! I have the distinct impression that both necklaces are imitation pearls. The way they are finished (the way they attach to the clasp) is low end. The pearls themselves are very uniform in size, color, luster, lack of overtones...all of which tend to be true of imitations...

What about the black ones?

Both necklaces look like imitations. If you still have any doubts, do the rubbing test. Rub one pearl in the necklace gently against another (but first wipe them clean with a damp microfiber cloth, as grime interferes with this test.) Gritty = likely real; smooth = likely fake. Sticky = grimy...

It's hard to say from the photos, but based on the way the pearls are attached to the clasp (with gimp/French wire), they could be cultured akoyas, in which case the black ones are dyed. Do you have any other pearls to do the following test with? This could be pearls you know to be real -- or...

I think they are bead nucleated freshwater pearls.

I have not had my imitation pearls lose coating just from being washed. Just saying. Of course if you are already seeing flaking, then of course beware.

My Majorica strands are not gritty. The coating is not actually made of fish scales per se, but from a substance derived from them, together with whatever lacquer they use.

Welcome to Pearl Guide! It is really hard to evaluate pearls that are on a dark background, and even harder if they are not in sharp focus. I see a bit of grime and that makes it hard to evaluate luster. Please do this: At a minimum, wipe them clean with a damp microfiber cloth. If they have...

Thin nacre would make them look browner, not bluer.