There's a vast array of types of pearls. This is what makes them so versatile and appealing for women of any age. This guide will cover the most common, and more than likely, answer many questions you might have had about pearls.

Cultured pearl necklaces are a great way to achieve the look of real pearls without spending a lot of money. These pearls are artificially created, as opposed to pearls that are found naturally, this is the reason that they're not as expensive. Cultured pearl necklaces can be further classified as being sourced from freshwater, the South Sea, Tahiti or Akoya.

Colored pearl necklaces are becoming the most popular type of pearl necklaces. This is because the color, or overtone of the pearl can come in many vibrant and exquisite varieties. Because of the varieties, women can easily coordinate their attire with their necklace in a more fun style than they could with the regular white color.

Freshwater pearls are the cheapest type of pearls available and as such are used mostly in the creation of costume jewelry. Freshwater pearl necklaces are a good item to purchase for young teenagers and younger kids who're more likely to not care for an expensive necklace like they should.

A natural pearl necklace is the most valuable type of pearl necklace available. These natural pearls are made entirely without the help of humans and are rather rare. This natural process occurs when a mollusk ingests a small foreign object then coats it with layers of the hard, pearl material as a protective measure. The result is an astoundingly beautiful gemlike piece.

A concern that most people have when looking to buy a pearl necklace is whether or not it's a genuine one. Pearl necklaces are very expensive and as such, you'd be a wise consumer to learn how to identify the features that differentiate fake pearls from real ones.

First, thoroughly inspect it's description - some people selling pearls will be more than happy to tell you a pearl is real, despite the fact that right in the description it says 'glass' or 'resin' or even 'artificial' or 'simulated'. If you see any instance of a word that implies something about the pearl might be man made, it is, without a doubt, a fake.

Aside from cutting the pearl in half, there are two ways to determine the legitimacy of a pearl. The first is to have it sent to a gemologist who will x-ray the pearl, doing this will reveal any signs of human cultivation. The other method and one that you can do yourself, is to take the sting of pearls and look at them under sunlight or light that's nearly as bright. The color and orient of genuine pearls naturally differ from one pearl to the next. A fake string of pearls will have each pearl look identical under bright light.

Indeed pearl necklaces are a great accessory investment. With their variety of styles and colors comes the versatility that every woman looks for in an accessory. Remember the above tips when buying pearls and you're sure to be happy with your purchase.

Summary:

Pearl necklaces vary greatly in terms of style and type of pearls used. Selecting a genuine natural pearl over a cultured or freshwater pearl is wise if your budget allows, but do you know how to tell the difference?