How to Tell if Freshwater Pearls Are Real: 5 Simple Tests
By Irene Nebo, founder of Goddess Glow · Updated 2026-11-12
The tooth test
Gently rub the pearl against the edge of your front teeth. Real pearls feel slightly gritty because of their layered nacre; glass or plastic imitations feel perfectly smooth.
Look for small irregularities
Genuine freshwater pearls are rarely identical. Look for tiny differences in shape, size and surface between pearls on the same strand. Perfect uniformity often means imitation.
Check the luster
Real nacre reflects light from within, so you see a soft glow and gentle overtones (pink, silver, green). Fake pearls look flat or have a painted shine.
Temperature and weight
Real pearls feel cool at first touch and warm up on the skin. They also feel slightly heavier than plastic beads of the same size.
Inspect the drill holes
Under good light, the edge of a real pearl's drill hole is clean and you may see layered nacre; coatings on imitations often chip or peel around the hole.
Buying genuine pearls
Every Goddess Glow piece uses genuine freshwater pearls, chosen one by one by designer Irene Nebo in Bali. Natural variations in shape and luster are part of what makes each piece unique.
