Vintage Black Pearl Necklace Strand Perlas De Mallorca Spain Elegant Made in Spain 12mm 16” length Perfect condition Mallorca pearls have historically been the best imitation pearls you could find. These pearls began to be manufactured at the end of the 19th century on the Spanish island of Mallorca and became popular throughout the world. They have achieved such great fame over the years that even today many people think that they are real pearls. The pearls of Mallorca are not original pearls , they are glass balls varnished with a layer called “Essence of the East” that, among other ingredients, contains “guanine”, a crystalline substance found in the scales of some fish, which is what It gives it a pearl-like shine. Once the Essence of the Orient has been applied, it is sprayed with lacquer, to prevent the sun's ultraviolet light from affecting the shine.