Weird pearls

[Long Potato]

I acquired this necklace and bracelet as part of an auction lot. The seller described them as "cultured saltwater" pearls.

The pearls feel gritty when rubbed together, and measure 6-6.5 mm in width. The grittiness, the irregularity of shape, and the variation between pearls make me think they are at least real pearls rather than imitation.

The coloring is odd. I'd read that dyed pearls would hold their color, but these (many of them) have some intense blue colors in the crevices while being only pale blue overall. So, poorly dyed baroque-ish Akoyas?

(When I started to make this post, I found a link to this thread: Weird thrifted pearls (https://www.pearl-guide.com/threads/weird-thrifted-pearls.462975/) with pearls that look sort of like mine, except mine are more obviously splotchy.)

The necklace is about 41 cm long (on stretched-out cord). The clasp is stamped "SILVER", but has a yellowish hue (plating?) and a little greenish discoloration in spots (maybe from copper in the silver alloy, or maybe the clasp is not actually silver?)

The bracelet is about 18 cm long (also on a stretched-out cord). The bracelet clasp is stamped "ACO 1/20 12K G.F.", so, gold-filled. I wonder if some pearls were removed from the necklace at some point to make the bracelet, since the clasp styles are so different.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts!

 

[Pella]

IMO they are dyed Akoya pearls. Those dark blue spots are the giveaway that they are dyed and those pearls with little tails or that have the remainder of tails where they have been trimmed to assist with knotting, indicate that they are Akoya. The clasp is vintage Chinese gilded silver.

 

[MrGray]

Possibly they are dyed by the person who owned it, since it looks so unprofessional.
Maybe someone on this forum can tell what is the best way to try to undye it, at least to wash out those stains.
Akoyas are saltwater pearls and I really like those baroque ones, I think they are beautiful and you can make beautiful jewellery with them.

 

[pattye]

Long Potato, If you want to try bleaching, you might use hydrogen peroxide greatly diluted with distilled water. Perhaps test with just a few pearls. This is NOT something I have done.

First, though, I would give them a bath in mild cleaner like Dr. Bronner castile soap and see if that would remove some of the dye. Rinse thoroughly in distilled or filtered water.

I agree with MrGray, these pearls were probably not dyed professionally.

 

[pattye]

Just a thought, perhaps, after cleaning, take the best pearls to make a necklace and use a blue gemstone like apatite to coordinate and alternate with the pearls.

 

[Long Potato]

Thanks for the info and ideas, everyone.

I did already wash these in soapy water (they were quite grimy when I got them ) and I don't think that had a noticeable effect on the color.

I'll try soaking a couple in dilute hydrogen peroxide and see what happens. I was also thinking about trying acetone. I read somewhere that it shouldn't hurt real pearls?

 

[ennui]

I'd be afraid to use hydrogen peroxide, even diluted. I'd just accept them as is.

 

[A Breaker]

My favorite: Blue Akoyas!!! But the dye is a little strange. I have some well dyed & uniform (1950's-60's) and some undyed with variations. I also have one strand that is a bit of a mess like these (with more pitting & issues & weird dye). I am guessing that these are lower quality that someone tried to salvage. Pattye's suggestion is great. There might even be enough that the poorly dyed could either be at the back of the neck or as a bracelet where the color variation wouldn't be so bad. Even a better design layout would help..alternating blue & less blue might help? If you don't like them...maybe pass them on to someone who does want to learn restringing?