How Can I Tell if a Shark Tooth Is Real or Fake?

May 26, 2025

Shopping for a shark tooth or shark tooth necklace can be exciting—but it also comes with a challenge: How do you know if what you’re buying is actually real?

With the popularity of ocean-themed jewelry and fossils on the rise, fake shark teeth have flooded online marketplaces. Many sellers prioritize margins over authenticity, leading to a growing number of mass-produced, low-quality replicas that may look good in a photo but lack the character, strength, and value of a genuine shark tooth.

If you want a piece of real ocean history—and not just a decorative trinket—here’s how to spot the difference between authentic shark teeth and counterfeit fakes.

🔍 Key Signs of a Real Shark Tooth

Natural Imperfections
- Real shark teeth aren’t perfectly symmetrical or smooth. They often have microscopic chips, ridges, and unique surface patterns.
- Fossilized teeth may also show wear from the ocean floor, weathering, or mineral staining.
Weight and Feel
- Real teeth, especially fossilized ones, feel dense and heavy for their size.
- They are cool to the touch, unlike resin or plastic replicas, which may feel warm or light and flimsy.
Color and Texture
- Modern shark teeth are often white, gray, or slightly translucent.
- Fossilized teeth, on the other hand, come in earthy tones like black, brown, or dark gray, due to mineralization over thousands or millions of years.
- Real teeth have a more granular or stone-like texture, while fake teeth often appear too smooth, too shiny, or “perfect.”
Edge Detail
- Many species of shark teeth (like those from the megalodon or tiger shark) have visible serrations or fine saw-like edges.
- In fakes, these details are often blurred, symmetrical, or completely absent.

⚠️ Common Signs of Fake Shark Teeth

Made from plastic, resin, or composite molds.
Mass-produced, often sold in bulk or as souvenirs.
Too smooth, shiny, or symmetrical to be natural.
Lack of any mineral staining or natural variance.
Unrealistically low prices.

Some fake teeth are marketed as “fossils” but are really resin-cast replicas designed for decoration or costume jewelry. They may still look cool—but they carry no real historical or collectible value.

🦈 Why Authenticity Matters

Owning a real shark tooth is more than just wearing jewelry—you’re holding a piece of nature’s ancient history.

A fossilized tooth could be millions of years old, having survived the passage of time from prehistoric oceans to the palm of your hand. A modern shed tooth could have been dropped naturally by a living shark, as they shed thousands throughout their lives.

Each genuine tooth has a story, a unique structure, and a connection to nature that simply can’t be mass-produced.

🛡️ Our Commitment to Authenticity

At Real Shark Tooth Necklaces, we take authenticity seriously:

Every tooth we sell is 100% real, either from naturally shed modern shark teeth or fossilized specimens sourced ethically.
We hand-select each tooth based on size, shape, mineralization, and durability.
No resin. No replicas. No cut corners.

Whether you’re wearing it for style, symbolism, or as a conversation piece, we want you to be confident that your necklace is genuine, high-quality, and backed by expert care.

💬 Final Thoughts

So, how can you tell if a shark tooth is real or fake? Look closely. Feel the texture. Ask questions. And above all, buy from a trusted source that values authenticity over profits.

At Real Shark Tooth Necklaces, our passion for marine history and craftsmanship drives everything we do. If you ever have questions about a tooth, we’re happy to help verify it—or help you find one that’s 100% authentic and truly yours.

➡️ Browse our fossil collection and explore your own piece of prehistoric ocean life: realsharktoothnecklaces.com