The Swiss Gemological Institute SSEF has received large quantities of saltwater pearls for certification in recent weeks. Usually the quality of saltwater pearls is far better than most of the natural pearls, which is endangering the natural pearl market. These cultured pearls, as SSEF director Dr. Michael S. Krzemnicki explains, have an almost perfect appearance and often accompanied by reports describing them as natural pearls.

When tested using the most advanced forms of technology, including X-ray radiography, X-ray luminescence, X-ray micro tomography and radiocarbon age dating, and many were identified as beadless cultured pearls. There is no one distinct feature to describe a saltwater pearl, rather a combination of internal and external structures which enable conclusive identification of this material.

With the increase in saltwater pearls in the market, SSEF is working to protect the natural pearl trade, by adapting its pearl certification policy and collaboratively promoting transparent standards at an international level.

An important step is the use of more rigorous and specified definitions for natural and cultured pearls. A natural pearl is a pearl which formed in a wild oyster (mussel) and is living in its natural habitat. It formed without any human intervention.

Any pearl stemming from a pearl cultivation farm is a cultured pearl.