1. Try and buy from established sellers like Amazon or Carla Pearls, etc. – big pearl suppliers are trust worthy and you know where to find them!
2. background check on the seller – generally sellers based in a developed country tend to be more trustworthy as regulations in these countries are well-established (pardon me if this is a little politically incorrect). If you are based in the same country as the seller it is even better, as it is to track delivery and you are free from the hassle with the customs.
3. Read the product specifications on the website carefully: honest supplier always put down a lot of information on the pearls; whether they are natural, freshwater or shell pearls, as well as size, lustre, overtone, fittings etc.
4. Even though photos don’t tell you everything, they are still very important: do the photos look like genuine ones or digitally-corrected? You should be able to see slight irregularities on the surface of the real pearls.
5. The price always tells you something: a typical freshwater princess length single strand necklace with round pearls (i.e. the most classic and popular kind) typically costs between £40 – £100 or more, depending on the rating (and yes we’ll discover ratings in a later chapter). Anything less than £40 the pearls should be in irregular shapes (this means they are of a modest quality and the price could be for real pearls); if they look perfectly round and are sold for a price lower than £40, then they are very likely to be faux pearls (or shell pearls)
6. Check if the seller offers good returns policies – because only honest sellers do.
7. Ask around: see if any of your friends have shopped for pearls online and are satisfied with the product. Reference is always an extra guarantee!
8. Google for sellers reviews – see what other buyers have to say about the seller!