Fake Shells
Fake shells exist since shell collecting exists. However, for several centuries, they were rare. They reappeared in quantity in the shell world recently. This is typical in the world of collectors in periods where demand is high and supply short. You must be prepared when you buy such shells. In some cases, and especially for newcomers, they are occasionally very hard to dismantle. Currently, there are 186 fake shells shown here.
As a specialized collectors company, we do not approve fakes, but we now have to live with the phenomenon. In the meantime we have formed two specialised experts in our company, who can advise you in case of doubts. When consulting them, do not shoot the messenger. Thanks. Contact [email protected] in case you have problems with one or another shell on this level.
Angaria sphaerula
With extra spines glued.
Arestorides argus argus
Polished: the rings have disappeared.
Asprella australis gabryae
With acids, a fake band in the center.
Asprella laterculatus
Special purple form obtained with acids.
Asprella laterculatus
Rare purple color, done with acids.
Asprella pergrandis
An oversized pergrandis, made out of giant Conus leopardus, then reshaped with fiberglass and painted.
Asprella pergrandis
A polished pergrandis, a nice object.
Asprella samiae
A fake ALBINO shell. First heated to get dirty cream white and then put "on the roof" as they say on Mactan to get perfectly white through intensive sun light.
Asprella sulcatus f. bocki
A fake ALBINO shell. First heated to get dirty cream white and then put "on the roof" as they say on Mactan to get perfectly white through intensive sun light.
Bolma girgylla
The so-called "double row of spines freak". One row has been glued on the shell. Magnificent fake.
Bursa borisbeckeri
This is a fake albino, heated, put on the roof for months until the shell is completely white, finished with sunlight.
Callistocypraea aurantium
Extended teeth, polished, a job of three days.
Callistocypraea leucodon leucodon
This leucodon changed in colour during the year. When we bought it the colour was perfectly olive. A real leucodon, coated and repainted. This often happens with dead shells that are virtually impossible to sell. Many collectors got trapped, to the great joy of the local fakers.
Canarium urceus urceus FREAK
Polished, became unusual shell. In fact a fake D. luhuanus.
Chelycypraea testudinaria
The fake albino.
Conus marmoreus
Cooked and now orange. Also to obtain with microwave oven or just an oven. The real orange marmoreus exists. It is very uncommon in New Caledonia and frankly very rare in the southern Philippines. Less than half a dozen samples have been collected in the Philippines.
Conus marmoreus
This fake took lots of hours: the black has been removed between white blotches in order to get this amazingly beautiful specimen. Check sculptures by microscope if the colour of your marmoreus looks TOO beautiful.
Conus species
Magnificent polished pergrandis.
Conus species
SINISTRAL fake, two shells glued together, fake perio for camouflage.
Corculum cardissa
Valves of two different specimen.