How to Tell if Your Pearls are Real

Have you ever wondered if those hand-me-down pearls you got from Granny are valuable, or if those pearls you bought off of eBay for a great deal are really the "real deal"? Telling if you're pearls are the genuine article does not necessarily require a trip to the appraiser. Here are some simple ways for you to tell if your pearls are real:

1) Temperature: Hold your pearls in your hand. Real pearls will feel cool initially, but will warm as they sit in your palm. Imitations will feel warm from the start.

2) Weight: Real pearls have a nice weight to them. As imitation pearls are often plastic or glass that has been coated in pearly nacre, they will feel lighter and less dense than genuine pearls.

3) Appearance: Imitation pearls have only been coated in pearliness which can chip or flake off, whereas real pearls are layer upon layer of nacre that will not chip. Real pearls are also not perfect. They will likely have some ridges and will show some color variation.

4) Scratch Test: Rub your pearl on some glass. If it is an imitation, the glass will not scratch the surface. A real pearl will be scatched by the glass, and will leave behind a pearly powder. Buff or wipe the powder from this pearl, and you will find there is no damage.

Oscar Night Brings Out the Swarovski!!

I watch the Oscars as much for the films as for the Fashion. One thing that I noticed at this year’s Oscars was that Swarovski crystal was EVERYWHERE. Cate Blanchett was wearing a gorgeous Swarovski crystal mesh gown (left), and Penelope Cruz, Jennifer Lopez, and Abigail Breslin (right) were all sporting Daniel Swarovski clutches.

Swarovski crystal is the 1st choice of fashion and jewellery designers alike. So what is it that puts Swarovski crystal above the rest of crystal out there?

What its made of: Swarovski crystal is the only crystal that uses high lead content crystal glass. It contains approximately 32% lead and lead oxide. It is this high lead content that increases and maximizes refraction, making the crystal so sparkly that it is actually comparable in sparkle to a diamond!

How it's made: When the Swarovski company was first started in 1882, Daniel Swarovski developed an automatic cutting machine that would enable him to cut the glass perfectly every time creating multiple surfaces that would reflect light.

What it does: This precision cutting creates a crystal that catches the light on both the inside surfaces as well as the outside. As light dances and reflects throughout the entire crystal, the beautiful and eternal sparkle of Swarovski is created.

The next time you are looking for an outfit or a piece of jewellery that is going to look both brilliant and be of the highest quality, look for Swarovski crystal. You’ll never be disappointed.