Synthetic Pearl Guide

If you find this guide useful please be sure to vote for YES at the bottom of the page.

Crystal pearls are made with a crystal base which is then powder coated / painted / dyed the desired colour. The best crystal pearls on the market are definately those made by Swarovski crystal.

Swarovski Crystal pearls positives (+) and negatives (-):

• + Great variety of shapes, colours and sizes
• + Scratch and abrasion resistant
• + Colour safe (colour doesn't fade)
• + Perfume and chemical resistant
• + Lovely heavy weight
• + Very realistic
• + Warms to the skin the same as natural pearls
• + Uniformity in colours and size - if you make a necklace with Swarovski Crystal brown pearls and in 12 months later you want to make the earrings you can get the exact match to the pearls you bought 12 months earlier
• + Everything that comes with buying a branded product - accountability, quality assurance, the Swarovski name

Glass pearls are the same as crystal pearls but with a glass base rather than crystal they do not look as realistic and do not last the length of time that the Swarovski Crystal pearls do.

General glass pearl positives (+) and negatives (-):

• + Great variety of shapes, colours and sizes
• - Low scratch and abrasion resistance
• - Colour tends to fade
• + Perfume and chemical resistant
• + Lovely heavy weight
• - Colours can vary from batch to batch
• + Cost effective

Plastic Pearls again these are the same ideal as crystal and glass pearls but with a plastic base, they are the cheapest and at the same time they are the lowest quality of the synthetic pearls.

General plastic pearl positives (+) and negatives (-):

• + Great variety of shapes, colours and sizes
• - Nearly zero scratch and abrasion resistance
• - Colour tends to fade and dull
• - Perfume and chemical resistant
• - Very unrealistic light weight
• - Colours vary from batch to batch
• + Extremely Cost effective
• - Have a very short life span

Seashell Pearls are the Rolls Royce of synthetic pearls being made from natural shells. There are two methods commonly used, the better of the two is when the pearl is carved from one piece of solid shell. The second method is when shells are ground into a fine powder which is then reconstituted into a pearl. The carved pearls also come with a more expensive price tag but both have a luxurious natural look and feel.

General Seashell pearl positives (+) and negatives (-):

• + Great variety of shapes, colours and sizes
• + Scratch and abrasion resistant
• + Colour safe (colour doesn't fade)
• + Perfume and chemical resistant
• + Lovely heavy weight
• + Very realistic
• + Warms to the skin the same as natural pearls
• - Colours can vary from batch to batch
• + Natural shell and not a man made material
• - Can have marks around the hole of the pearls but normally unseen once strung

Please note the positives and negatives listed for all of the pearls above are general comments and may vary according to their origin.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me and I will do everything I can to help.
Best Wishes,
Michael.