Many people love to buy black pearls at wholesale prices mainly because they can be significantly less expensive in bulk. However, it is important to note that not a lot of Tahitian pearls can be obtained this way. For example, regular pearl nuggets or those produced without human intervention or care are too rare to be harvested and sold by the hundreds. Thus, before jumping on the offers pitched by retailers, take a moment to reconsider. What most suppliers and gem traders refer to as "natural" are indeed real but discerning pearl chips. These cost much more than fake or synthetic bead drops made from plastic or glass, but they should, by no means, be sold for less than a unique natural treasure.
To test your pearls, you have a couple of options. You can send them to a lab for X-rays, or rely on the foolhardy nuggets of information from one's front tooth. When rubbed against enamel, natural Tahitian pearls feel slightly gritty, whereas imitation pearls are much smoother.
How cultured black pearls are formed:
Black pearls are created when one foreign material enters an oyster. This irritates the oyster’s defense mechanism, which then tries to calcify the “intruder” to protect itself from any blemishes. Natural pearl creation takes years. The cultured pearl nuggets, however, which make up the vast majority of wholesale black pearls, are "initiated" by human effort. Jewelers insert "beads" into farmed oysters so they are trained to form pearl nuggets. Due to the method using initial ovals, the attainment of cultured Tahitian pearls is better. They do not lack luster and shine compared to natural black pearls; they are significantly more joyful and thus an impressive package much less expensive.
Decoding cultured from synthetic:
To ensure the strands you're buying aren't synthetic beads made from glass or cheap materials, have the retailer “slice” away part of a jewelry bead with a blade. If it is an artificial pearl, the cut should be seen clearly and reveal the glass or plastic substance. If the gem bead is cultured, the particles should appear as bright or greyish powder.