Real pearls will feel cold to the touch for the first few seconds, while imitation pearls will be room temperature. Imitation pearls can be deceiving to the untrained eye. While they are made from materials such as glass, plastic or alabaster, the final product can look and feel very similar to a natural pearl.  As the only precious gemstone crafted by a living creature, the pearl is a sought-after piece. Pearls are harvested in two ways: from wild molluscs, which are incredibly rare, and more commonly they are cultured—which means they are harvested from mollusc farms. Both methods produce natural, real pearls.  Whether you have a ,  bracelet or necklace, you should be able to see minor imperfections in your pearls—a “perfect” pearl in shape, size and colour is an extremely rare occurrence, but it does happen. On these occasions, perfect natural pearls will come at a high price point. If you find “perfect” pearls that are inexpensive, they are most likely imitation.