What color Akoyas? Treated?

[A Breaker]

Sorry this is a far away photo......but they are such an unusual color...I am afraid I can't get the color well in a photo. Would they be natural, dyed or cobalt (treated...I can't remember what happens there.) What color would you call it? It does have more green & purple in real life.
I also can't decide if I like them or not...Wondering if a wash would help? They are nicely round about 5.5mm too.

 

[ennui]

If you can't decide if you like them, I'm guessing you don't. I know I usually get a gut reaction like OMG! OMG! when I like something. Or even a discreet breathless Wow.

 

[BWeaves]

Dyed black akoyas were a thing a long time ago. It was a way of selling pearls that weren't a good white color.

I agree with ennui. If you're not sure you like them, then you don't. I also go with a gut reaction of WOWZA! or something like that. If I don't have that gut reaction, then I know there are other pearls out there that I'd like better.

 

[CortezPearls]

I agree with BWeaves....these are "Blackened Akoyas"...and I can see their thin nacre, even large imperfections...

 

[A Breaker]

Are they dyed or treated to blacken?
I am giving them a wash before I decide what to do...shocked at how dirt makes things boring & washing makes them sing! Then I will decide...I do want to like them...but I will see

 

[BWeaves]

Dyed.

 

[A Breaker]

A wash and a better background..I think these are blue akoyas...They look even more blue green in person. Dye enhanced or treated?

 

[BWeaves]

I'm still thinking dyed.

 

[MrGray]

I am also considering freshwaters.

 

[ennui]

I am also considering freshwaters.

I'm inclined to agree. Dyed freshwaters.

 

[A Breaker]

I'm still thinking dyed.

Thanks.... I may restring them so I will get a chance to look at the drill holes for dye.

I'm inclined to agree. Dyed freshwaters.

No, they are Akoyas..very round...my second photo may be skewing them oblong.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

They look dyed to me.

 

[KarinK]

If you want to compare how blue akoya look, try to check out some of BWeave's posts. She has a lovely collection of blue akoya - and they have a completely different color from these. Generally blue akoya mostly look silver and only blue in the right light.

 

[ennui]

No, they are Akoyas..very round...my second photo may be skewing them oblong.

I have some round freshwaters. I should take photos.

Instead of washing (frankly, I'm puzzled by all the washing), try wearing the pearls. The moisture and oils from you skin may help the lustre. Pearls don't like to be dry, which is why they don't really do well in safe deposit boxes.

 

[A Breaker]

I have some round freshwaters. I should take photos.

Instead of washing (frankly, I'm puzzled by all the washing), try wearing the pearls. The moisture and oils from you skin may help the lustre. Pearls don't like to be dry, which is why they don't really do well in safe deposit boxes.

I defer to Douglas, Cortez Pearls...but I can even see the bead under a better light & the crazy inconsistant dye job. They are quite the mess!!! But I learned a lot!

 

[JMichaels]

I have some round freshwaters. I should take photos.

Instead of washing (frankly, I'm puzzled by all the washing), try wearing the pearls. The moisture and oils from you skin may help the lustre. Pearls don't like to be dry, which is why they don't really do well in safe deposit boxes.

I am a person with a taste for vintage jewelry, and I can reassure you with some authority, people are disgusting

When carefully cleaning old pearls, I have have seen water turn brown, and I’ve seen akoyas go from dull and yellow to lustrous and pinked. It doesn’t work a miracle on every strand, but it certainly helps if the pearls are covered in a thin film of makeup and dead skin.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

I am a person with a taste for vintage jewelry, and I can reassure you with some authority, people are disgusting

When carefully cleaning old pearls, I have have seen water turn brown, and I’ve seen akoyas go from dull and yellow to lustrous and pinked. It doesn’t work a miracle on every strand, but it certainly helps if the pearls are covered in a thin film of makeup and dead skin.

That is exactly why I got all three of my vintage consigned akoya strands so cheaply.
They were unattractively dull from the patina of grime and were priced low, but they cleaned up beautifully. Then they just needed to be restrung.