Necklaces made from the shells of certain varieties of sea snails are usually called “shell necklaces” or “African shell necklaces.” The shells used in making these necklaces are generally collected on the shores of Africa, where they are naturally found. They are then fashioned into beautiful pieces of jewelry. Many people buy these pieces to wear on special occasions, while others use them as gifts for friends or relatives who have just moved into new homes or got married. Shell necklaces are available at many stores that sell African art and crafts. They can also be purchased online, but it is essential to choose a reputable dealer to not get cheated by buying imitation products. Here’s how you can identify a fake piece:
- The shells used should be relatively big and unopened — most of the variety available on the shorelines are small and closed at one end, while the other end has a pointy tip. If you find a necklace with small shells strung together, it probably contains imitation materials.
- You can also identify imitation necklaces by closely examining their endings. They do not have pointed tips but rather look like they were just cut off from some bigger shell. Since real shell necklaces are made out of naturally grown material, these pieces have rounded endings instead of sharp ones.
- Authentic African shell necklace is usually sculpted to perfection so that all the shells are perfectly aligned and look like they were grown together. Fake pieces, however, often have crooked lines, which give away their faked origins.
- It is important to note that not all necklaces made from African shells are fake. Authentic necklaces are also available online, but it takes some time for dealers to receive fresh shipments of raw materials due to the long distance between Africa and other parts of the world where these necklaces are sold. However, you can ask any reputable dealer when he received his shipment of necklaces because if you get hold of a piece that was crafted two weeks ago or more, it should be genuine.
- When buying your necklace online, make sure that you read the customer reviews and check out what other buyers had to say about their shopping experiences. This will give you an idea of whether you are dealing with a trustworthy dealer or not.
- Another essential point to note is that African shell necklaces, just like most products made from natural sources such as wood or rocks, cannot be reproduced perfectly by machines, no matter how advanced they may be. That means that even if the necklace looks perfect on the outside, it might contain some slight defects on its inner surfaces, which can only be identified when you closely examine it up close. Most real pieces also have a slightly waxy feel and appear more luminous than imitation ones under bright light.
- Authentic African shell necklaces grow on certain types of seashells indigenous to some specific parts of the world. To test if your piece is genuinely made from an African shell, you can perform a simple test by scratching it with any sharp metal object. If the scratch mark left behind turns black immediately, it means that your necklace is not made out of authentic material and therefore should be avoided.
Knowing how to buy African shell necklaces may save you a lot of trouble in the future, especially if you plan on wearing them on special occasions or giving them away as gifts.