How to tell the new very round freshwaters from Akoyas?

[A Breaker]

Looking at eBay and $25 NEW strand of 7mm "akoya" with gold filled clasp.... it still seems like they would be round freshwaters. Is there any good tells for picking out if they are round freshwaters? (I am not buying these, just trying to work on my skills)

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Typical freshwaters of 7mm would not be fully round, lacking a bead nucleus. There are some new Edisons that have a bead nucleus but they would not be on eBay for $25.

And really, freshwaters round enough to look like akoyas would not be sold for $25 either, unless they had mediocre luster or a lot of flaws.

 

[KarinK]

Look at the price... First check is if it's too good to be true. That will not catch people selling FW at Akoya prices. For that, stick to reputable sellers

 

[ennui]

There are so many problems with pearls on eBay, it will make your head spin.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

On eBay, what you get may not even be what is in the photo. Photos are reused over and over.

 

[ennui]

On eBay, what you get may not even be what is in the photo. Photos are reused over and over.

Reused, and hijacked or stolen from reputable pearl companies. I seem to recall some of our esteemed vendors having an issue with this.

 

[A Breaker]

Yes...yes.. I would like tips on telling smaller 8mm Edison perfectly round pearls from Akoyas... on Etsy, eBay, etc. Is that possible???

 

[Pearl Dreams]

With bead nucleated round pearls with good luster and minimal flaws, that is tricky. But I don't think there are that many Edisons in that size, of that quality, yet. Mostly they are larger.

 

[ennui]

Yes...yes.. I would like tips on telling smaller 8mm Edison perfectly round pearls from Akoyas... on Etsy, eBay, etc. Is that possible???

I imagine perfect Edisons will be pricey, as will perfectly round Akoya. Your best bet is to deal with reputable vendors that you trust.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

I have to agree.

 

[A Breaker]

Tricky...that is exactly what I wanted to know! Right now it is just a thought... I have been wondering: how would I tell.

 

[KarinK]

Remember that you also can't trust the pictures. You can see one thing and get another.

 

[A Breaker]

True...just trying to get better at ID from photos

 

[CortezPearls]

Remember that you also can't trust the pictures. You can see one thing and get another.

Hence...the need to have a REPUTABLE pearl source.

 

[A Breaker]

Speaking of reputable...I sold a lovely pair of Akoya earrings...that I just won't get around to wearing...the buyer wanted a certification. Vintage akoyas are easy...but I didn't have a certification.., they were NOT that expensive!.....so the buyer sent them back in a different box with a certification that was a different than I have seen here...it seemed off and I am willing to bet fake....but it pleased the buyer...because she "knew" her new earrings were akoyas...the paper said so! But as my grandmother would say "paper won't refuse ink" you can fake so many papers.