Blue grey akoya pearls

[Marnie]

Hi Alex - Thank you! Yes, I got the 8.5-9.0. Couldn't resist the way they shined in the picture.

[Adeline Leigh]

Thanks for clarifying again, Jeremy. It's just me who got muddle-headed then. Ahh this thread's interesting, Alex, because we see the whole spectrum.

There's Marnie's glorious ones from PP here and, at the other end, the 'dalmations'. I had to buy them because I was spending so many nights wondering what the heck they were. Dyed or diseased? The vendor claims undyed... Lol. I'm like my dad in that aspect. He's a retired banker who is so insatiably curious; he's recently gotten a ticket having stopped the car on the highway's emergency lane to fondle some strange fungi growing on the trunk of the tree. Not recommending it, but in defense of the old man, he just had to cop a feel.

I can't wait to ask the experts what the spots on the akoyas are and if the blue is too blue to be true.

[Alex]

that's great Marnie - if you ever get the necklace (never-say-never) the larger studs will accentuate the set !

love the story about the fungi Adeline

[Adeline Leigh]

Blue grey akoyas are my latest obsession. Allow me to share.

In my collection of blue grey akoyas, soem are undyed and others are dyed. I guess what I have learnt is to inspect carefully for evidence of dye especially if you have paid for au naturel blue greys. Here are my observations:

(1) The 6-8mm rounds are an 'earl grey creme' colour that I bought from a jeweller going out of business on Collins Street in Melbourne 7-8 years ago. Then I was still into petite and round pearls, and though i could scarcely tell a faux pearl from a freshwater, something told me to buy them. These appear undyed.

(2) The baroques 8-11mm in the pictures were collected over the years; I have inspected the strands and they mostly appear undyed. Having said that, when I cut the strands or pulled the necklaces apart, I realised that 10-20% of the pearls have tell-tale signs of dye (drillhole, dye in nacre folds) though the vendors swear on them being undyed. Any such experiences too?

(3) Some dye jobs are so appalling it screams "Dye!" without the help of a loupe. Such was the mysterious spotted strand I had asked about in an earlier post in this same thread. Obviously dyed and not a great job at that but, strangely, some customers loved it?!? Go figure.

Happy to hear or see what others have or know about such pearls!

[Amanda]

Those ones you describe as "Earl Grey" are really lovely, such a gorgeous shimmery-silver.

[Pearl Dreams]

I really appreciate the photos in this thread. They helped me distinguish between some dyed and undyed blue baroque akoyas recently.

[KarinK]

Thank you for taking the time to post about the akoyas, Adeline! My only experience is with a resent strand from Strachura. Not at all in your league, but clearly not dyed as the color shifts on each pearl the way it does on pond slime pearls.

- Karin