Filipina brought BLACK PEARLS From Philippines -- Pls. HELP.

[asiana]

Hi everyone.. I am a Filipina who just arrived here in the USA from Philippines. I brought Black Pearls which I don't know if it's fake pearls or real cultured/natural pearls.

These were actually given to me by my ex fiance. He got these from Native people in Bohol, Philippines. Here are the things that I noticed about the pearls:

Their color is like metallic gray that is shiny.
I took scissors for cutting wire and scratched the surface of one earring (I can't find the other pair anymore). When I scratched it, I got some grains like sand and then I wiped the scratched part with my hand, then it's like magic that I can't see or touch the scratch anymore. It went back to being so smooth again.
They are also kinda heavy and sound like stones when I drop it on he table.
It's also like a stone when I scratched it on my teeth.
They are not perfect in shape.

I like it because it's shiny and I also like its metallic black/grayish color. But I just don't think it looks good on me. I also have white pearls here (necklace and earrings. I lost the bracelet) and I love these more than black. I heard though that black pearls are more expensive. Well, I don't really know if its true.

I hope somebody can help me find out if these are real natural/cultured pearl or fake. And how much the value of these because I am thinking to sell these here.

I attached pictures for you to see...

Thank you and have a great day!

[JShepherd]

The pearls are indeed real. They are cultured freshwater pearls and they are from China. The color is not natural. The pearls have been dyed.

Unfortunately, the pearls are not very valuable - around a dollar wholesale and maybe $50 retail.

[asiana]

How did you know Sir that these are fresh water pearls while my fiancee got this from natives in Bohol? They have wide ocean there, and I am kinda confused why are they going to buy fresh water pearls if they have ocean? How would I know if the color have been died? How ill I test to know if it's just died? Now I am thinking to appraise these. Do you know a place here in the USA where I can appraise these and how much do you think?

Thank you..

[JShepherd]

The photos are clearly of freshwater pearls. Saltwater pearls look much, much different. The color is not a natural freshwater pearl color, and freshwater pearls are routinely dyed to black and other colors.

Freshwater pearls are not cultivated in the Philippines - South Sea pearls are. All the freshwater pearls in The Philippines that one finds sold by locals and at places like Greenhills are from China (although they are often sold as local production and South Sea).

There really is no reason to appraise the pearls. It would cost much more than the value of the strand, unfortunately. If you would like more opinions, you should post your pictures on the Pearl-Guide.com forum Web site. But none will differ from what I've written.

Jeremy Shepherd
PearlParadise.com

[pbazar]

I am sorry but I agree with Jeremy. The pearls are low quality the clasp is inexpensive. The only pearls cultivated in the Philippines are South Sea and the pearls pictured are clearly not. The reason that the native population imports Chinese Freshwater pearls and passes them for something they are not is greed

[MarcA]

With out any doubt dyed black Chinese freshwater pearls

[asiana]

Alright.. So this is really fresh water pearls from Chinese.. If ever I will sell these, how much do you think can I sell these for..?

[JShepherd]

You might be able to get $50, but that would be a bit high. On eBay you would probably get around $10 for them.

[peaceclub7]

maybe its not fake...

[JShepherd]

Nobody said that the pearls were fake. They are genuine pearls. They simply have little value.