Black natural pearl drowned in glue

[Isi]

Hi all. I have owned for some time a small black natural pearl, button shaped. Recently I wanted to have it set in a pendant. The jeweller made a small pendant with four prongs, without drilling as I ordered.
However, looking closely at the pendant, I suspect that, in order to make the setting stronger, the jeweller used glue, and he seems to have drowned entirely the small pearl into glue (like a varnish) as the surface is now very smooth and glossy, not crisp and rough as nacre usually is, you know what I mean. Only the basis of the pearl, which can be seen through the back, has kept its normal texture.
I wonder if the pearl has lost its value through this process ? Is there a safe way to remove the glue in excess (if it is glue) ? I tried acetone but it doesn't seem to change anything. Should I take the pendant back to the jeweller (who told me nothing when he delivered it) ? An unexercised eye would probably not have noticed anything. But I don't like this too high polish effect.
Thanks for your advices !

 

[Pearl Dreams]

I think you should ask the jeweler what he did with the pearl in the process of setting it.

 

[Lugana]

Some photo would be nice! Just as an eye-candy to see a natural pearl set into a pendant

By the way you describe it

Only the basis of the pearl, which can be seen through the back, has kept its normal texture.

I don't think it's glue. Sounds like your jeweler has polished the finished pendant with the pearl already set in it. Probably with a compound like rouge or renaissance wax, but if you say it cannot be removed with acetone (using acetone on pearls is not advised btw ) - I would say the treatment is probably more or less permanent now. Sorry.

I would definitely return to speak to your jeweler to clear out what has happened and verify whether he wishes to make himself responsible if you consider the pearl ruined while setting. Hope this helps.

 

[Isi]

Hello Lugana, it seems that you are perfectly right ; I saw my jeweler, and polishing the finished pendant is exactly what he did, not even supposing that might be a problem for the pearl.
I would never have supposed that a pearl could take such a glossy polish !
Do you think it detracts much from the intrinsic value of the pearl ? In case some day I want to sell it back as a black natural pearl, which it is, or was...

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Was it very valuable to begin with?
How likely are you to want to resell it?
Has the polishing improved its appearance, or do you like it less knowing it is not in its original natural state?

I guess I'm wondering what harm you feel was done to you by the polishing of the pearl. If it is not very valuable or you are not likely to resell it, and if you like the way it looks, then maybe no real harm was done.

But if it is quite valuable and the polishing made it lose value, or if you really think you will want to resell it and you worry that it will be worth less to buyers because polished, or if you just don't like it as well now that it is polished, then there was greater harm done by the polishing.

How you feel about it all may determine what responsibility you expect the jeweler to take.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

I just want to add, Isi, I'm glued to the TV, shocked at Notre Dame Cathedral in flames...such an appalling loss. My heart goes out to you and your fellow Parisians. Indeed, to all the French people.

 

[Parrot Lady]

I, too, am in a state of shock, horror and disbelief at the fire at Notre Dame. It’s a tragic loss not only to Paris and France, but to the world. I will be in Paris on Wednesday morning and can’t believe I won’t be greeted by the majestic cathedral. Deepest sympathy to the people of Paris.

 

[Isi]

Yes, this is quite a shock to all of us here. Thank you for your sympathy. I think I have forgotten for a while my black pearl trouble.
At this time we don't know what is coming next and what will be saved in the end of our dear cathedral.

 

[CathyKeshi]

My heart goes out to you and your fellow Parisians and all of France, Isi.

 

[Lugana]

H
Do you think it detracts much from the intrinsic value of the pearl ? In case some day I want to sell it back as a black natural pearl, which it is, or was...

Hello Isi, sorry for my late reply. Polishing pearls is a common process for some cultured pearls, for example, Tahitian pearls that come from China are almost all polished (even though the color is natural). In cultured pearls it's not even recognised very widely across the industry as a treatment of a pearl, many wholesalers use those pearls in their designs and that's what you can find in many many retail store chains. Most companies that actually specialise in pearl jewellery wouldn't use such pearls in their designs though.

In natural pearls.. More complicated. Less established. I hardly can advise on values of a natural pearl as it's out of my area of expertise, so I would concentrate on facts of your case. You cannot reverse what is done to the pearl, even if you shower your jeweler with guilt, this will not change the appearance of the pearl. From your description it sounds obvious that your jeweler didn't realise normal jewelry finishing/polishing process will affect the appearance of the pearl, neither it sounds that he is a jeweler who specialises in pearl designs who could possibly know what care pearls require when setting. It's normal to polish a finished piece with ANY gemstone in it (including opals) after finishing - with any gemstone but pearls.

For personal use, I would say a set pearl is more useful than an unset pearl and you have it set now. Should you decide to sell it, I would suggest you mention it honestly to a potential buyer and let them decide whether they want it or not. The pearl is still natural in its origin, but since it's been set undrilled - I would say it's important to mention to a potential buyer that if they will want to re-set it, the pearl is polished on one side and unpolished on the other side.

Hope you still get lots of joy from your jewel despite the worries that occurred when setting it!

 

[Isi]

Hello to all. I am back with my black natural pearl history. Definitely I don' wear it, since it has been polished when it was set. So I would be happy to propose it for sale. Do you have any idea where I could propose it ? It is still a nice jet black undrilled natural small pearl.
I have also a small natural white freshwater scottish pearl which I don't wear either, and from which I could part. Maybe the lot of 2 pearls could interest somebody, who knows.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

I suggest offering it on diamondbistro.com or loupetroop.com. I would be sure to tell what was done to the pearl so the buyer can make an informed decision.

 

[Isi]

Will try that. Thank you !