In many civilizations, pearl is a highly valued material and has not only been a sign of status but has also been used as currency.

However, fashion pearl jewelry does not enjoy such high regard in society and most of the times it is condemned as fake probably due to its low price and easy availability.

One way of identifying fashion pearl jewelry is by the price. Fashion pearl jewelry is reasonably priced and very affordable. It should be noted that some types of pearls are genuine pearls while others are imitation.

The genuine ones are either fresh water pearls or the cultured type and the other type is the saltwater pearls or the natural type. The quality of pearls can also be determined by their luster, whereby the more valuable ones have are shinier.

However, you should keep in mind that faux pearls could be painted to make them as shiny as the authentic ones. Another characteristic is the layers of nacre and this is the number of layers it has.

It is determined by the period it took to grow the pearl, which is a process that involves the depositing of lime by a mollusk. The thickness of the pearl eventually determines its quality characteristics such as the shine and weight.

The nacre also determines the shape of the pearl, where the cultured type has a button-like shape while the more expensive ones have a more round shape. The best quality pearls are those with a shape very close to a sphere.

Another consideration is the texture of the pearl. The more expensive ones also have a smooth surface. A good quality pearl should be free of discolorations and should not be chipped.

One of the tests of determining authentic pearl is to rub it against your teeth but in the event that you are testing faux pearls, they may be damaged in the process.

As earlier mentioned, the size of the pearl is also a factor where the size of cultured pearls is measured in millimeters. You can also get unique fashion pearl jewelry by exploring the possibility of buying colored pearls such as black, green, blue, or chocolate ones with the iridescence of silver, green, and blue.

Black pearls are usually the biggest of all pearls, measuring up to 18mm. Pearls are graded according to their quality in the grades of AAA and A with AAA being the highest grade.

An AAA pearl is very expensive even when it is a cultured pearl. The darker the hue of a pearl the more valuable it is and this is why black pearls are considered the most valuable of all. Chocolate faux pearls are stunning and you could consider adding some pieces to your jewelry collection.

You could consider purchasing several pieces of pearl jewelry that complement each other. For instance, you can pair a pearl necklace with pearl studs. All these facts prove that there are many types of fashion pearl jewelry on the market to choose from to suit your preference and budget.