A lot of people prefer to buy wholesale river pearls only because they can be much less expensive in bulk. However, it is important to note that not all black pearls can be purchased in such quantities. For example, regular black pearls or pearl jewelry formed without individual care or treatment are so rare that they cannot be easily bought or sold in bulk. So, before jumping into a seller's deal on quantity, range, and weight, think again. What do most cheap pearl dealers offer? They claim "natural" but actually sell genuine yet cultivated pearl chips. These cost much more than fake or artificial beads made from plastic or glass, but they should not be marketed as rare natural gems.
Testing Your PearlsTo test your black pearls, you have two options. You can either send them to a lab for x-rays, or trust the bold instincts of one's front teeth. When rubbed against enamel, natural Tahitian pearls feel slightly gritty, while cultured Tahitian pearls are much smoother and thus softer. How cultured black pearls are made: Black pearls are formed when a foreign object enters an oyster. The oyster's flesh reacts and tries to calcify the "intruder" to protect itself from imperfections. Natural necklace production takes years of growth. The elegant Tahitian pearls, which make up a significant majority of wholesale freshwater pearls, are "initiated" through human intervention. Jewelry farms embed "beads" into farmed oysters to encourage the formation of cultured Tahitian pearls. However, due to trends with initial beads, the demand for cultured pearl jewelry has become softer. Although they do not lack luster and shine compared to natural black pearls, they are significantly more modern and considerably less expensive.
Distinguishing Cultured from SyntheticTo ensure that the pearls you're buying aren't artificial ovals made from glass or plastic, ask the vendor to "cut" a jewelry bead with a blade. If it’s a synthetic bead, the cut should expose glass or plastic material. If the pearl bead is cultured, the inside should reveal white and gray powder.