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Free checklist · PDF

Are my pearls real? Checklist

A printable checklist for telling real pearls from imitations, ranked by how reliable each home test is.

Are my pearls real? Checklist

Download the PDF

1 page, US Letter size, 42 KB. Free, no sign-up.

Sources: Jewellery Business, Detecting pearl imitations and treatments; Jewelers Mutual; FTC; GIA. Checked October 2026.

You can tick the boxes and type into this PDF on a computer or phone, then save or print it.

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Printing tips

  • Print at actual size (100%), not "fit to page", so the lines stay a usable size.
  • It is laid out for US Letter paper and also fits A4.
  • Turn on "background graphics" if the colors come out pale.

What is on this checklist

Most reliable

  • Under 10x magnification: smooth with small natural marks (real) or grainy and glittery (imitation)
  • Drill hole: sharp edge (real) or peeling, flaking coating (imitation)

Helpful

  • Strand: small differences between pearls (real) or all perfectly identical (warning sign)

Can be fooled

  • Tooth test: slightly gritty (real) but polished pearls feel smooth
  • Weight: plastic feels light, but glass feels heavy
  • Temperature: real pearls start cool, but so can glass
  • Paperwork: ask the seller, as the FTC suggests

More free printables

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