There are acceptable pearl enhancements as well as unacceptable enhancements. Don’t be afraid to talk with your jeweler about pearl treatments and have them clearly spelled out on your bill of sale. Here’s a few tips on what to look for and ask about when evaluating pearls:

1. Setting three-quarter or half pearls into jewelry pieces and selling them as whole pearls. Fully round pearls are far more valuable than those that are semispherical.

2. Adding a lacquer coating to a pearl to increase it's luster. If you are suspicious about a shiny topcoat, have the pearls examined for nacre thickness. Any qualified gemologist can do this.

3. Using epoxy to fill pits and then coating the filling with pearlesence.

4. Selling imitation pearls as real pearls. The simple tooth test will spot the difference. Pearls sold as "Majorica pearls", "Atlas Pearls," or "Kultured Pearls" are all imitation pearls.

5. Selling cultured pearls as natural pearls. Always ask for x-ray test results to back up such claims.