Majorca pearls: what they are and what they are not
A Majorca pearl is a manufactured pearl produced on the island since the early twentieth century by building successive layers of nacreous essence onto a core, so it is neither a natural pearl nor one cultivated in a mollusc.
gelisted editorial team · Updated 15 August 2026
The short version
- Manufacture on the island dates from the early twentieth century.
- A necklace costs 40 € to 300 € depending on size and clasp.
- An equivalent natural or cultured pearl costs 5 to 50 times more.
- The tooth test distinguishes a mollusc pearl from a manufactured one.
It is one of the island's most sold souvenirs and one of the most misdescribed. It deceives nobody who knows what they are buying, which is the whole point.
How they are made
Onto a spherical core, generally of opaline glass, successive layers of a nacreous essence of natural origin are applied. Each layer is dried and polished before the next, and the process can be repeated dozens of times until the required thickness and lustre are reached. The result is uniform, durable and of precisely controlled size, none of which is possible with a mollusc pearl.
| Type | Origin | Necklace price |
|---|---|---|
| Manufactured pearl | layers of essence on a core | 40 to 300 € |
| Freshwater cultured pearl | mollusc with graft | 80 to 600 € |
| Saltwater cultured pearl | marine mollusc with nucleus | 500 to 5,000 € |
| Natural pearl | spontaneous formation | from 3,000 € |
| Uniformity of size | perfect when manufactured | |
| Surface to the touch | smooth when manufactured | grainy in mollusc |
| Resistance to rubbing | high when manufactured |
How to tell them apart
The classic test is to rub the pearl gently against the edge of a tooth: a mollusc pearl feels slightly gritty because of the microscopic structure of the nacre, while a manufactured one feels smooth. Uniformity helps too: in a strand of mollusc pearls no two are exactly alike in shape, and diameter differences of 0,2 or 0,3 millimetres are visible on close inspection.
What you pay and what you get
A simple 8 millimetre strand runs 40 € to 90 €; with a sterling silver clasp and 10 or 12 millimetre pearls it rises to 120 € to 300 €. The difference against an equivalent saltwater cultured strand, which starts at 500 €, lies not in appearance at arm's length but in origin and in long term behaviour. For everyday wear the manufactured pearl resists rubbing better and loses lustre more slowly.
Anyone selling them as natural pearls is describing them incorrectly, and a purchase made on that basis can be challenged.
Care
Last on and first off, because perfume, hairspray and creams attack the surface. Clean with a soft, slightly damp cloth, never with products containing alcohol and never in an ultrasonic cleaner. Store separately, since contact with a metal piece leaves a mark. With that routine, a strand keeps its appearance through 15 or 20 years of frequent wear.
Frequently asked
+Is a Majorca pearl natural?
No. It is a manufactured pearl built from layers of nacreous essence over a spherical core.
+How do I recognise a mollusc pearl?
Rubbed gently against a tooth it feels slightly gritty, while a manufactured pearl feels smooth.
+What does a necklace cost?
Forty to ninety euros in 8 millimetre sizes and 120 € to 300 € with larger pearls and a silver clasp.
+Do they deteriorate with wear?
They resist well, but perfume, hairspray and ultrasonic cleaning damage the surface.
+What if it was sold to me as natural?
That description is incorrect and gives grounds to complain about misleading information.
Sources
- 1Gemological Institute of America, GIA (August 2026)
- 2Govern de les Illes Balears, Govern de les Illes Balears (August 2026)