Pearls of Mallorca. What are they? Are they real pearls?

The Mallorca pearls no son perlas reales, históricamente han sido una de las mejores imitaciones de perlas que podías encontrar, pero no dejan de ser perlas artificiales.

These pearls began to be manufactured at the end of the 19th century on the Spanish island of Mallorca and became popular all over the world.

They have achieved such great fame over the years that even today many people think they are real pearls.

In this article, we will explain its entire history and why we believe that cultured Freshwater pearls they are a much better option nowadays.

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What are Mallorca pearls? Are they original?

Mallorca pearls they are not real pearls, they are crystal balls varnished with a layer called "Essence of the Orient" which, among other ingredients, contains "guanine," a crystalline substance found in the scales of some fish, which gives it a shine similar to that of pearls.

Once the Essence of the Orient has been applied, it is sprayed with lacquer to prevent the ultraviolet light from the sun from affecting the shine.

The price of Mallorca pearls. This is how they became popular.

At the end of the 19th century, the only pearls that existed were the natural pearls, a byproduct of the mother-of-pearl industry, since before the invention of plastic, oyster mother-of-pearl was used to make buttons and other ornaments. The others were fished for the mother-of-pearl, but in one out of every 10,000, a was found natural quality pearl acceptable. These pearls were extremely rare and reserved for royalty and great fortunes, so imitation Mallorca pearls were the only option a normal person had to wear something resembling pearls.

At the beginning of the 20th century, it was discovered in Japan how to cultivate a pearl, giving rise to cultured pearls, which are the pearls you can find today in jewelry stores. These pearls are a natural product created by oysters and mussels, but thanks to human intervention and under human control and care.

Although cultured pearls made pearls affordable for the upper class, these pearls still had a very high price. In the 80s and 90s, a necklace of Japanese Akoya cultured pearls o las pearls of Mar del Sur Australians, of good quality, could cost as much as a car. In this regard, the imitation "pearl" from Mallorca remained a good option for anyone who could not afford cultured pearls. But with the turn of the century, this was going to change.

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The alternative to Mallorca pearls. Cultured Freshwater pearls.

At the end of the 90s, beginning of the 2000s, they appear on the market Freshwater pearls Of very good quality. These pearls began to be cultivated in the 60s, but their quality was not ideal and it took a few decades for them to reach the standard.

The Freshwater mussels They are cultivated in environments much easier to control than the ocean, are more resistant, and are capable of producing many more pearls than saltwater oysters, making their price more affordable and their quality, from the 1960s until now, has improved so much that they can compete in beauty with saltwater pearls.

Strands of round and baroque Freshwater pearls. Visit

Why do some people think that Mallorca pearls are real?

In the past, when the difference between a Mallorca pearl necklace and one of cultured pearls was of thousands of euros, no one had any doubt that some were real and others were imitation. But now, the more affordable prices of Freshwater cultured pearls have raised doubts, since the price difference is not very significant, because the most famous brands of Mallorca pearls have very similar, even higher, prices.

Another reason why some people are not quite sure whether Mallorca pearls are genuine or not is precisely the name. While, at the Imitations of diamonds they were given a name, like cubic zirconia or moissanite and no jeweler would ever think of calling a cubic zirconia a diamond. The pearl industry allowed imitations to also be called pearls, which over the years has caused confusion. After all, no matter how much they resemble real pearls, they are not pearls.

How much do Mallorca pearls cost compared to Freshwater pearls?

Currently, the prices of famous Mallorca pearl brands are similar to or even higher than those of Freshwater pearls, thanks to a strong brand image and, above all, customer ignorance.

Ultimately, for practically the same price, you can buy cultured pearls produced by a real Freshwater mussel, instead of an imitation created in a factory.

Round Freshwater cultured pearl earrings. Visit

Why should you choose cultured Freshwater pearls over imitations?

Cultured Freshwater pearls have value regardless of the brand.

Cultured pearls are unique, each one formed by a mussel or an oyster over long periods of time, resulting in a jewel with an intrinsic value that depends on its quality and not just on the value added by being from a specific brand.

Cultured pearls are more sustainable.

Cultured pearls are the most sustainable gem that exists, since they are the only ones that can be cultivated, while the rest are extracted through mining. This makes them the perfect jewel for the 21st century.

The pearl industry not only does not harm the environment, but also strives to preserve intact the areas where oysters grow, since, to produce pearls, these mollusks require clean and crystal-clear waters, free of pollution.

Mallorca pearls are made.

While a fake pearl can be manufactured in a matter of days in a factory and as many as you want can be produced, cultured pearls take an average of 5 years to cultivate. Three years for the mussel or oyster to grow and another two to slowly form, gradually depositing the nacre, one of nature's wonders. The pearl.

Although years ago Mallorca pearls were the best imitation pearls, today there are thousands of manufacturers of artificial pearls of magnificent quality, at very affordable prices.

Ultimately, Mallorca pearls have played a very important role in the history of jewelry, but today it seems difficult to justify the high price of an imitation when, for just a little more, you can acquire a natural, sustainable, and truly unique product. Nevertheless, they remain a valid option, and with all the information above, you can decide if it is the right choice for you.