Hi!  This is my first venture into the blogosphere of the 21st century.  I'm excited about sharing my extensive knowledge about pearls with anyone who has a question.  Pearls are a natural gift from God and the way you can tell if they are real is to place one between your teeth and gently bite down.  It should feel gritty similar to fingernails on a chalkboard.  If in doubt compare it to a plastic bead or a fake pearl (which would be perfectly round and perfectly smooth to the touch).  If pearls are your thing, please check out PamsPearls.net.