Pssssssst. Mine are fake too and I've done the same thing with mine. We went to an auction last weekend and I was so excited they had an old wardrobe closet up for auction. I had to sit there for 3 hrs waiting for it to come up and I sat there and picked and pulled at my nails til they all came off. Oh God I hate myself when I do that. It went for $360. Of which I couldn't afford but I did get some vintage embroidered linen hand towels. I love antiques.