How does a pearl get bleached? What do they look like before being bleached? Are naturally white pearls rare? What color is the "common" pearl?

[jshepherd]

It is a chemical bleaching treatment. It is the next step after maeshori, and the step all akoya and freshwater go through. If it is done well you pearls will be fine. If the pearls are over-bleached they will be chalky and start to oxidize after about 6 months.

The pearls were a little off white before bleaching. This is a creamy color that may have a hint in the direction of lavender or peach, but no real color other than off white. This is the most common color in all freshwater and akoya, and considered non-marketable until bleached.

Does anyone have a picture of an unbleached pearl? I'm curious what one looks like that it would not have a market. They don't sound so bad. Do unbleached pearls lose any qualities (luster, orient) when bleached?

[jshepherd]

The few white strands on our mother's day special were unbleached. The whites in the multi color strands are unbleached as well.

Bleached pearls do not lose any luster or orient, in fact the luster is usually better because after bleaching the pearls go through a luster treatment. But this can fade with the oxidation.

I keep hearing about this luster treatment and I read the info on it in the pearl articles section. Do 100% of freshwater pearls always go through a luster treatment after being bleached? Or just the ones that don't have good luster?

The pearls we got during the mothers day special seem to have great luster as is.

I hope this works, I am trying to attach a picture of the baroques I want.

[Raisondetre]

Nice pic. Where'd you get it from? They look almost bead-nuked to me though.

[jshepherd]

That picture looks like South Sea to me.

Yes, they all go through a chemical luster enhancement. Sure, the luster can be good, but good luster becomes great with the treatment. It is considered a standard treatment, as standard as bleaching. They all go through it...

I can't remember where I got it, but it was a pearl vendor's site. I wish I could give credit where credit is deserved, but I didn't save it with any description.
But they look expensive, huh? Can I get something like that in a Freshwater. I really like the shape and size of the pearls.

Aren't there some freshwater bead nucleated pearls around these days?
They look like South sea pearls to me too.

These teeny tiny freshwater pearls have that look. These were posted by raison.
http://cgi.ebay.com/AAA-pink-white-R...QQcmdZViewItem

and so do these south sea pearls
http://www.pearlparadise.com/detail.aspx?ID=1109

Thanks Casey, the last ones are nice.
I wonder what size is in the picture I posted?
15mm, maybe.

[jshepherd]

They look slightly larger than 15mm. In that size range they would most likely be South Sea. The freshwater freeform (bead nucleated) can look like this as well, but they can also be very expensive. Ruan offered one at the Hong Kong show that ranged from 17mm+ to nearly 24mm. They were asking $200,000.

[Ingykiz]

Jeremy,
How was the lustre of those large pearls? Where they worth the asking price? Maybe someday when I win the lottery.......

[jshepherd]

If you get Jewelry News Asia there is a picture inside.

The color, luster, and orient is amazing. If you have seen some of those big strands at Tucson or Vegas you would know what I mean. The color is nearly indescribable. Avi Raz and Jack Lynch always have some amazing pieces.

Are they worth the money? I would not buy them, then again, I have no plans to ever carry them. They are beautiful, but I feel they have secrets... I will tell you more about it in August.