Half-drilled pearls

[xeresana]

Here's a dumb question. I can't figure out where to post this, though. What exactly does "half-drilled mean"? I had assumed it would be halfway through the pearl. But, is it actually more shallow than that? I just got some "half-drilled" pearls back from being removed from their stud settings and they appear to be barely drilled at all.

[jshepherd]

Half-drilled or as CIBJO would say, part-drilled, is simply a pearl with a hole that does not go all the way through. It does not necessarily mean that the pearl is drill exactly half of the way through. This would not really be feasible for larger pearls, for example. The hole is typically drilled just a bit larger than needed for the post being used.

If you have pearls that are already drilled and you are unable to drill them deeper when needed, the best thing to do is clip the post slightly.

[xeresana]

Hmmm...I'm starting to think that my jeweler had a little incident with my pearls. I took some pearl earrings in to be removed from their setting (plain studs). Now that they are free, the drill hole appears to be barely 1mm and when I look at the pearl with a 10x loupe, it seems that there is something metallic in the drillhole. Could the post have broken off in the pearl? Does that happen? Mind you, this jeweler isn't famous for his knowledge of pearls but, his store is widely considered the best in town which is why I had him remove the pearls from their setting to begin with. I'm noticing now that the clerk had written on the instructions to "unglue" the pearls. Surely, he wouldn't have intentionally clipped the posts in the pearl, right? Any hope for removing them? They truly are a very reputable place so I'm surprised that they wouldn't have brought this to my attention while I was there.

[jshepherd]

I think you are right. The posts broke off in the pearl. This means either the jeweler that was removing the pearl did not really know what he was doing (or was careless), or it means that the epoxy was something atypical and not easy to loosen. And the jeweler was careless.

If your studs were a typical style the jeweler could not have clipped them off in your pearls because the cup would have covered the post.

What I would suggest doing at this point is soaking the pearl in a solution of 'Attack' for several hours to a day, swishing it around on occasion. You may be able to dislodge the post from within the pearl. If that does not work, a drill can also do the trick (last resort only).

[xeresana]

Ugh. Nothing is ever as simple as I imagine it will be. The setting was a typical style with a cup so, you are right, I suppose he wouldn't have been able to clip them. It appears that he broke the posts off and didn't mention it to me. Anyone out there know any experts in post extractions?

[DFrey]

It sounds like the posts are still in the pearl. He didn't mention it, hoping you wouldn't notice, because it is not an easy task to get those posts out or to drill the posts out if thats what needs to be done. It should be the jewelry shops problem to fix their mistake and if they can't fix it without causing serious problems in the drill hole I would ask for a new pair of pearls.

Dfrey

[wayne]

What I would suggest doing at this point is soaking the pearl in a solution of 'Attack' ...

What is 'Attack'?

I realize that it must be some type of solvent, but could anyone be more specific?

Thanks,
Wayne

[The Pearl Outlet]

Atack is a liquid solution which dissolves cured epoxy and polyester resins. It is used on pearls to remove them from settings they are glued into. It is produced by Hughes Associates in Wayzata MN.

[Ashley]

I'd have to agree with DFrey here- take the pearls back to your jeweler and tell him what you've noticed. If he's as reputable as you say, then he'll admit the mistake and offer renumeration.

It sounds as though he did try to sweep this mistake under the rug but since you know what you're talking about he'll definitely deal with you on a different level from now on!

[pearl-man]

Here's a dumb question. I can't figure out where to post this, though. What exactly does "half-drilled mean"? I had assumed it would be halfway through the pearl. But, is it actually more shallow than that? I just got some "half-drilled" pearls back from being removed from their stud settings and they appear to be barely drilled at all.

There is no standard in drilling. If the mountings are Walmart quality so are the holes. If the pearls are only 2-4 mm don't expect holes to be too deep. Usually the holes on 6-8 are 3mm +/- deep. In any event is very easy to increase the depth with the proper equipment. Drills are usually .8mm or 1.0mm.
PD

[pearl-man]

I think you are right. The posts broke off in the pearl. This means either the jeweler that was removing the pearl did not really know what he was doing (or was careless), or it means that the epoxy was something atypical and not easy to loosen. And the jeweler was careless.

If your studs were a typical style the jeweler could not have clipped them off in your pearls because the cup would have covered the post.

What I would suggest doing at this point is soaking the pearl in a solution of 'Attack' for several hours to a day, swishing it around on occasion. You may be able to dislodge the post from within the pearl. If that does not work, a drill can also do the trick (last resort only).

Without equipment such as a lathe type drill it is nearly impossible to drill out the post. Steel drills won't work. The drill wanders and will follow along the side of the post that is in the hole. A dia drill might work if the drill is chucked at the minimal depth. If the pearl is not too big---replace it--it isn't worth the effort---If it is real large or especially sentimental take to a jewler who has a lazer welder and have him weld a small gold piece where the post is in the hole. The heat and the weld will allow you to pull the pearl right out. DO NOT USE ATTACK wrecks the pearl and the fluid can creap along the layer between the neculeus and the nacre.
PD

[jshepherd]

They turned out to be baroque akoya of natural color. The post was broke off below the drill line so soaking would not loosen it up. Because they were baroque I drilled next to the current post and reposted them. It worked well. A very nice set of unique pearls!

[Slraep]

Without equipment such as a lathe type drill it is nearly impossible to drill out the post. Steel drills won't work. The drill wanders and will follow along the side of the post that is in the hole. A dia drill might work if the drill is chucked at the minimal depth. If the pearl is not too big---replace it--it isn't worth the effort---If it is real large or especially sentimental take to a jewler who has a lazer welder and have him weld a small gold piece where the post is in the hole. The heat and the weld will allow you to pull the pearl right out. DO NOT USE ATTACK wrecks the pearl and the fluid can creap along the layer between the neculeus and the nacre.
PD

Hi PD,

I have been drilling out posts that have lodged solidly in the pearl with no hope of ever coming out, using a high speed dental drill. It drills out the metal post, no problemo. Sometimes the hole becomes enlarged slightly because of it but that too is no problemo. I've saved many hopeless pearls this way. I now even forego trying the microwave method. "Attack" works but is an organic solvant that is toxic to the environment and possibly(very possibly) a human carcinogen. I suspect it affects the organic protein(conchiolin) in the nacre in some bad way.

Slraep

[Esther Sonenblick]

Hmmm...I'm starting to think that my jeweler had a little incident with my pearls. I took some pearl earrings in to be removed from their setting (plain studs). Now that they are free, the drill hole appears to be barely 1mm and when I look at the pearl with a 10x loupe, it seems that there is something metallic in the drillhole. Could the post have broken off in the pearl? Does that happen? Mind you, this jeweler isn't famous for his knowledge of pearls but, his store is widely considered the best in town which is why I had him remove the pearls from their setting to begin with. I'm noticing now that the clerk had written on the instructions to "unglue" the pearls. Surely, he wouldn't have intentionally clipped the posts in the pearl, right? Any hope for removing them? They truly are a very reputable place so I'm surprised that they wouldn't have brought this to my attention while I was there.

it is impossible to get the piece out if it brook off.

[xeresana]

I don't know. Jeremy saved them (Yeah Jeremy!!) and I'm not sure I remember how he did it. He may have redrilled them close to the original hole?