In Reply to: pearls posted by nellzy on Friday, 11. January 2008 at 07:10 Bali Time:
So many choices with pearls.
Almost all pearls on the market these days are cultured, although the clam still produces the pearls in a clam, the process is triggered by man.
Lots of pearls for sale on Bali are from Lombok.
In Lombok there are many companies which farm pearls, fresh water and salt water. I am lead to believe that the salt water pearls are the more expensive and more regular in shape.
I expect most pearls offered for sale by the beach sellers are fresh water and often the strings are not truly strong and trustworthy. Fresh water pearls are more likely to be irregular in individual shape.
I am also lead to believe that there are a number of ways to check if your pearls are not fake.
A real pearl feels chalky and gritty if you bite into it whereas a fake will feel smooth.
The locals in Bali often apply naked flame to the pearl to prove it genuine, I am not sure if this is accurate or not but then again a plastic bead would melt.