My Eclipse pearls faded.

I wasn't going to mention this, because I wasn't sure how Jeremy would feel about it. But, he mentioned it last night on the PP Live event that discussed the new bead nucleated freshwater pearls being produced in China, so I will share what happened. Both Pattye and I had Edison freshwater pearls from China that faded big time.

In January of 2024, I bought these intense colored Edisons during the PP Live event. They were amazing. Like brightly colored metal ball bearings. Very shiny and metallic. I called them my Eclipse pearls, because I wore them to my 3rd Solar Eclipse a couple months later.

E39 11.0-13.7 mm Magical Multi color round Edison strand AAA quality



But within 6 months, they had faded. After the Japan trip in June 2025, I decided to talk to Jeremy about them, and he took them back. Here's a photo with the same earrings, so you can compare the colors. In real life they looked dull. When I wore them, they looked even drabber and half the strand looked dull purple instead of multicolor. The hot pinks and deep green colors were gone. They no longer popped, like when I first got them.



Since it had been more than 100 days (the return window for a refund) he gave me Pearl Points for the cost of the necklace. They were expensive (for me) and it really soured me on dark colored Edisons.

However, I've now been on a bit of a buying spree, since I had to use up those Pearl Points.

During the Japan trip, Hisano wore this gorgeous wire wrapped necklace that she had made for herself. It was made with TINY white pearls and colorful tourmaline beads. I confess, I lusted after it, so I asked her if she could make me something similar. PP had just got in the golden SS keshis, so I got first crack at them. Hisano found some drop shaped tourmalines she liked, and that used up some of my Pearl Points. The rest I used on the blue baroque akoyas from the last PP Live event.

Hisano's necklace next to the golden keshis she picked out for me.



Hisano's layout of my necklace.



And the finished necklace. The tourmalines really sparkle when I wear it. This photo does not do it justice.



My blue baroque akoyas that are back at PP to be completed. They're next to a Vietnamese BBA 9 mm necklace I already own from a PP Ruckus years ago. I know these will not fade.

It's good you were made whole and clearly have done very nicely with the pearl points!

I bought my daughter some lavender/purple Edison studs from a trusted seller on Etsy to go with a pendant I had also given her. Both faded, but to the same extent (so they still match) and she still likes them. But going forward, I will avoid the deep colored Edisons.

I also have an Edison pendant pearl from Kojima that faded. It was a deep chocolate plum color originally, and now it is pale lavender with green overtones. I still really like the pearl, so I've kept it. But yeah, I'll stick with Tahitians and BBAs for my deeply colored pearls. If I win the lottery, I'm getting one of the Ritikea strands I saw on my Japan pearl trip. They had the same look as my Edisons but on steroids.

OK, this photo looks weird because the pearl is so shiny that it's reflecting all the nubs in the towel, and me holding my phone, and my windows. I'll have to try to get a different photo tomorrow.

Novice here but what is BBA? Something blue akoya or blue something akoya?

Izzie said:

Novice here but what is BBA? Something blue akoya or blue something akoya?

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Blue baroque akoya.

BWeaves said:

I also have an Edison pendant pearl from Kojima that faded. It was a deep chocolate plum color originally, and now it is pale lavender with green overtones. I still really like the pearl, so I've kept it. But yeah, I'll stick with Tahitians and BBAs for my deeply colored pearls. If I win the lottery, I'm getting one of the Ritikea strands I saw on my Japan pearl trip. They had the same look as my Edisons but on steroids.

OK, this photo looks weird because the pearl is so shiny that it's reflecting all the nubs in the towel, and me holding my phone, and my windows. I'll have to try to get a different photo tomorrow.

View attachment 476067

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This image supports what I've been observing in purple natural pearls. It's not the color fading insomuch as the elegantly terminated prismatic lathes of calcite are reverting to massive calcite, thus occluding visual orient of the underlying structure. In any calcium carbonate setting (metabolic or geologic), reversion occurs at random, disseminated over a broader area and stippling occurs. Each spot is lighter in color to the adjacent space, hence appearing lighter overall. In pearls, prismatic calcite is always present between the fine layers of aragonite and protein. Even the slightest alterations in light, temperature and humidity can give rise to reversion.

Our eyes visualize purple when aragonite crystals are oriented at right angles. This means deep purple hues are also marked by the thinnest growth layers. That's also not great for the expectation that any purple pearls, natural or otherwise will remain as dazzling when new.

I find in naturals, purple spots tend to occur more often in whiter, more naturally calcitic pearls than the more lustrous root beer or golden pearls. Of my collection, roughly 80% of what were once purple spots are now completely white.

While I doubt the dye itself fades much once treated, the process from which the dye is formulated may accelerate the process. To be perfected as soft tissue inert or non-detrimental in pearl culture might take some time. We are quite adept with dyes and fabrics, but living tissues are something yet again.

Names like Ming and Edison are serious brands. I'm sure technicians are trying many things to that end.

I think you scored with your pearl points, BWeaves. I honestly love your new pieces over the Eclipse strand.

Wow, fascinating. In theory, this pearl was supposed to be a natural color. It was dark purple when bought. Light lavender now. Here's a better photo of it.

It is really beautiful even if it is the faded color. Have you ever noticed fading with other colours? I was having a pearl moment where I went through all of my pearls ( because you know, you can never have enough!) and some seemed even more intense than I had remembered. It’s hard to know without pictures though.

BWeaves said:

Wow, fascinating. In theory, this pearl was supposed to be a natural color. It was dark purple when bought. Light lavender now. Here's a better photo of it.

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I wasn't certain whether it was treated or not. I ought to have queried. However, natural purple presents as faded over time from a cultural setting too.

We've seen it in nature and both sides of pearl culture (treated and untreated).

It's a thing.

BWeaves said:

I also have an Edison pendant pearl from Kojima that faded. It was a deep chocolate plum color originally, and now it is pale lavender with green overtones. I still really like the pearl, so I've kept it. But yeah, I'll stick with Tahitians and BBAs for my deeply colored pearls. If I win the lottery, I'm getting one of the Ritikea strands I saw on my Japan pearl trip. They had the same look as my Edisons but on steroids.

OK, this photo looks weird because the pearl is so shiny that it's reflecting all the nubs in the towel, and me holding my phone, and my windows. I'll have to try to get a different photo tomorrow.

View attachment 476067

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Glad you were able to recoup the cost in gorgeous pearls ! Love the necklace. Jeremy is a class act .

I must admit that I put all
My dark pearls
Aside for a couple of years - I was worried about the fading issue . I sold one strand to a well known Pearl person on the other forum but warned her that while they claimed natural- I had no evidence of it and suspected dye - Also said that the deep raspberry colour seemed to be the most likely to fade . Well warned I still basically sold them at cost and told her that . I still have some I need to check over - certainly a beautiful deep blue grey has faded to a mid blue grey - nice but not even close to the original colour. I never sold them as I was worried about it and wanted to see how they aged . Good thing I’m a born hoarder

Amoreperla said:

It is really beautiful even if it is the faded color. Have you ever noticed fading with other colours? I was having a pearl moment where I went through all of my pearls ( because you know, you can never have enough!) and some seemed even more intense than I had remembered. It’s hard to know without pictures though.

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I have not had a problem with any of my other pearls. My BBAs (blue baroque akoyas) have never faded. The pastel freshwater pearls have not faded (peach, pale lavender). My pistachios have never faded. My Tahitians have never faded. My golden South Sea pearls have never faded. And my dyed freshwaters have never faded. Only the dark Edisons faded.

BWeaves said:

I have not had a problem with any of my other pearls. My BBAs (blue baroque akoyas) have never faded. The pastel freshwater pearls have not faded (peach, pale lavender). My pistachios have never faded. My Tahitians have never faded. My golden South Sea pearls have never faded. And my dyed freshwaters have never faded. Only the dark Edisons faded.

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Oh that is reassuring that the rest have never faded!

I was involved at the very earliest stages with “Edison” pearls and have kept some of the first examples in my safe. They have all faded. I have said this on earlier discussions here on this site. I would be happy bring the samples to any of the international shows where we exhibit - Hong Kong or Vicenzaoro if anyone wants to inspect them.