Majorica Pearls is the brand name for an elegant, well-made type of simulated pearls, or "faux pearls". They were given this name because they were originally invented in Majorca (Mallorca), Spain, and continue to be manufactured there to this day. These extremely fine simulated pearls are highly sought after by more discriminating buyers worldwide!
The company uses a hand-blown glass bead, and coats the surface with an adhesive paste made from iridescent North Atlantic fish scales and oil (hemage) to make the surface look like a real pearl. These nuclei are repeatedly dipped in high quality essence d’orient and polished between dippings. It takes 30 dippings and polishings to produce these ultra-elegant hand-made pearls. A special final coating is then applied, and to prevent deterioration, Majorica pearls are then put under ultraviolet radiation. There are no imperfect Majorica Pearls. The company prides itself on creating only PERFECT pieces.
The making of simulated pearls is a tradition that local Mallorcan women have been doing since the 19th century. In 1890 a German immigrant called Eduardo Hugo Heusch created the company Indústria Española de Perlas Imitación S.A. in Manacor on the island of Mallorca in Spain. This company was responsible for the creation of simulated pearls. After Heusch’s death his children renamed the factory to Perlas Majorica or Majorica Pearls.
Majorica pearl manufacturers are well known for not allowing inferior pearls to leave the factory. As a result of this, they are known worldwide for producing only the finest simulated pearls. They are the only brand name imitation pearls that the public instantly recognizes. These pearls have such a close resemblance to natural pearls that only experts can distinguish them.
Majorica Pearls have been around for well over a century, and if you are lucky enough to find real Majorica Pearls on eBay, they are not dirt cheap. But now, others are taking up the mantle of producing some gorgeous organic Faux Pearls, and you will find these stunning simulants on eBay far more often!
These Faux Pearls are called "South Sea Shell" Pearls. Often referred to as "lab" South Seas Pearls.
These beautiful simulated pearls are made in the same way Majorica Pearls are made, but instead of "hemage" made of oil and pulverized fish scales, the glass nucleus is dipped into adhesive, then into powdered, often beautifully colored mother of pearl, and redipped and repolished in much the same manner. The resultant pearl is utterly stunning. Of course, even in the exacting manufacture of fine pearl simulants, you will always have a number of "reject" pearls... pearls that are flawed, with surface blemishes, or uneven lustre. Some are even made to look like natural "baroque" pearls. You find these rejects on eBay as well, and they make some lovely bracelets and necklaces, despite their obvious flaws. The flaws make them look even more real to many pearl lovers.
Well, that's extremely difficult at times, especially with Majorica Pearls. Many times, only an expert will be able to tell the difference. It is easier with Sea Shell Pearls, because they are often exotically colored, and the surface is mirror-brilliant. The surface does not feel "gritty" when drawn across the teeth... it feels smooth and glassy. The pearls below are high-quality Sea Shell Pearls. Note the high luster and the brilliant hues!
I own several vintage strands of Majorica Pearls, and they are amazingly real looking. I paid good money for them back in the 60's, and one of the strands even was upgraded with a gold and diamond clasp (by me)! Most Vintage Majorica Pearls have solid sterling silver findings. Newer strands come with gold and silver plated clasps. That's a shame, because these fabulous fakes deserve precious metal.
I have recently purchased several beautiful strands of Sea Shell Pearls, as well. The Sea Shell Pearls are heavier, and more dense than the Majorca. When body oil get on Sea Shell Pearls, it dulls, rather than enhances the glow. The surface is not porous. You need to gently wipe your Sea Shell Pearls after wearing them to maintain their luster and brilliance.
These Majorica Pearls have the stunning luster of real pearls, and are so perfect, they often cannot be detected to be faux-pearls without x-ray.
So you can see that you must find trustworthy sellers who are honest and ethical, or you just might be buying fabulous fakes instead of real pearls. Most pearl merchants are trustworthy, and with Majorica Pearls, the sellers don't hide the fact that they are selling these magnificent, ultra-perfect pearl simulants. But there are merchants who don't let you know up front that the pearls they are selling are Sea Shell Pearls, unless you pin them down with an e-mail. Many refer to them as South Sea Pearls, then mention in passing that they are lab created.
So don't hesitate to ASK. If you see a stunningly lovely strand of pearls selling for a pittance, don't bid unless you make sure of what you are buying. Some of the more honest sellers call their pearls "South Sea lab Pearls", "South Sea Shell Pearls", or "created South Sea Pearls", but there are a number who don't lay it out this clearly. You have to read the small print. Or you have to ask.
The company uses a hand-blown glass bead, and coats the surface with an adhesive paste made from iridescent North Atlantic fish scales and oil (hemage) to make the surface look like a real pearl. These nuclei are repeatedly dipped in high quality essence d’orient and polished between dippings. It takes 30 dippings and polishings to produce these ultra-elegant hand-made pearls. A special final coating is then applied, and to prevent deterioration, Majorica pearls are then put under ultraviolet radiation. There are no imperfect Majorica Pearls. The company prides itself on creating only PERFECT pieces.
The making of simulated pearls is a tradition that local Mallorcan women have been doing since the 19th century. In 1890 a German immigrant called Eduardo Hugo Heusch created the company Indústria Española de Perlas Imitación S.A. in Manacor on the island of Mallorca in Spain. This company was responsible for the creation of simulated pearls. After Heusch’s death his children renamed the factory to Perlas Majorica or Majorica Pearls.
Majorica pearl manufacturers are well known for not allowing inferior pearls to leave the factory. As a result of this, they are known worldwide for producing only the finest simulated pearls. They are the only brand name imitation pearls that the public instantly recognizes. These pearls have such a close resemblance to natural pearls that only experts can distinguish them.
Even More Fabulous Fakes!
Majorica Pearls have been around for well over a century, and if you are lucky enough to find real Majorica Pearls on eBay, they are not dirt cheap. But now, others are taking up the mantle of producing some gorgeous organic Faux Pearls, and you will find these stunning simulants on eBay far more often!
These Faux Pearls are called "South Sea Shell" Pearls. Often referred to as "lab" South Seas Pearls.
These beautiful simulated pearls are made in the same way Majorica Pearls are made, but instead of "hemage" made of oil and pulverized fish scales, the glass nucleus is dipped into adhesive, then into powdered, often beautifully colored mother of pearl, and redipped and repolished in much the same manner. The resultant pearl is utterly stunning. Of course, even in the exacting manufacture of fine pearl simulants, you will always have a number of "reject" pearls... pearls that are flawed, with surface blemishes, or uneven lustre. Some are even made to look like natural "baroque" pearls. You find these rejects on eBay as well, and they make some lovely bracelets and necklaces, despite their obvious flaws. The flaws make them look even more real to many pearl lovers.
So how do you tell the fakes from the real thing?
Well, that's extremely difficult at times, especially with Majorica Pearls. Many times, only an expert will be able to tell the difference. It is easier with Sea Shell Pearls, because they are often exotically colored, and the surface is mirror-brilliant. The surface does not feel "gritty" when drawn across the teeth... it feels smooth and glassy. The pearls below are high-quality Sea Shell Pearls. Note the high luster and the brilliant hues!
I own several vintage strands of Majorica Pearls, and they are amazingly real looking. I paid good money for them back in the 60's, and one of the strands even was upgraded with a gold and diamond clasp (by me)! Most Vintage Majorica Pearls have solid sterling silver findings. Newer strands come with gold and silver plated clasps. That's a shame, because these fabulous fakes deserve precious metal.
I have recently purchased several beautiful strands of Sea Shell Pearls, as well. The Sea Shell Pearls are heavier, and more dense than the Majorca. When body oil get on Sea Shell Pearls, it dulls, rather than enhances the glow. The surface is not porous. You need to gently wipe your Sea Shell Pearls after wearing them to maintain their luster and brilliance.
These Majorica Pearls have the stunning luster of real pearls, and are so perfect, they often cannot be detected to be faux-pearls without x-ray.
So you can see that you must find trustworthy sellers who are honest and ethical, or you just might be buying fabulous fakes instead of real pearls. Most pearl merchants are trustworthy, and with Majorica Pearls, the sellers don't hide the fact that they are selling these magnificent, ultra-perfect pearl simulants. But there are merchants who don't let you know up front that the pearls they are selling are Sea Shell Pearls, unless you pin them down with an e-mail. Many refer to them as South Sea Pearls, then mention in passing that they are lab created.
So don't hesitate to ASK. If you see a stunningly lovely strand of pearls selling for a pittance, don't bid unless you make sure of what you are buying. Some of the more honest sellers call their pearls "South Sea lab Pearls", "South Sea Shell Pearls", or "created South Sea Pearls", but there are a number who don't lay it out this clearly. You have to read the small print. Or you have to ask.
Comments
Post a Comment