Black pearl necklace from Cozumel , Mexico???

Question

I have a necklace that I got while in Mexico in 2005. I was led to believe that they were REAL black pearls. Im not big on jewelry so I never questioned it. Here recently my husband was looking at them and asked why I was keeping them...I told him it was cuz they were the only REAL piece of jewelry I had. He proceeds to tell me that they arn't real and laughs at me saying I got ripped off ....so now I'm wondering how do I figure out if they are real or fake cuz I don't want to hang on to them if they arn't!!!! They are just a short strand of black "pearls" with a lobster claw hook and a small gap in between each one...(if that helps anyone)

Answer 1

I would say if you purchased what you were told to be a "Black Pearl Necklace", it is most likely a fake.  The Black Pearl is only cultured in the South Pacific.  It isn't the "South Pacific pearl" (that is another type) it is known as the "Black Tahitian pearl".  They aren't quite as rare as they once were, but yet they are mostly purchased in the French Polynesia.  There are other places I'm sure that have them, but then they would have been imported there.  Without seeing it of course I'm not sure, but I do highly doubt that what you purchased are real black pearls.  Unfortunately you most likely did in fact get ripped off.  Just because it isn't real though, I mean if you DO like it - then keep it!

Answer 2

Almost anything you buy in Mexico is going to be fake.  Take it to a jeweler just to be sure.