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.

 

[A Breaker]

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.

Yes!!! BWeaves washes her pearl regularly in the summer when sweat (or glow) can build up on the string and attract dirt.

Disgusting can even be a very mild way to put it! I think it was Pearl Dreams and I that were talking about strands of old rice pearls for the 70's with foundation make-up deep in the every part of those pearls on one section of the strand....it looked like the owner had slept in her pearls...so disgusting!!! I washed, & washed them...they are still gross...I mentioned that my grandmother used cold cream grease to get her foundation off in the 70's...& wondered if something greasy would dissolve the foundation. But I still haven't tried that, I have so many rice pearls now, I don't know I will bother with those.

I also just looked at pearls to help someone try to match their pearls with earrings...the FIRST thought was "wash your pearls!!!" ewwwww! But I also was surprised to learn as a young adult that washing the inside of gemstone rings would make a huge difference in their sparkle...I somehow assumed that just washing your hands was enough. I never would have known how much washing something would make such a difference...especially pearls and gems.

Full disclosure: I don't wash my pearls often...but I also live in a coolish climate and can't remember that last time I wore pearls and got hot enough to sweat.. it is most likely I will wash them when I restring them.

 

[BWeaves]

Haha, A Breaker. I love how you called sweat "glow." But you're right. As much as I try to keep the pearls clean, it's almost impossible to keep the knots clean, too. When I restring is really a good time to clean around the drill holes. It's amazing how much gunk gets down in the crevasses.

 

[ennui]

I stand corrected about pearl washing. I personally follow the last on - first off practice, and occasionally wipe my pearl strands with the damp cloth that comes with Pearl Paradise purchases. I don't use sticky lotions or sunscreens when I plan to wear pearls. Hot summers are for diamonds (some are diamonds, some are not, ha ha).
Sadly, the donation/thrift stores near me don't carry jewelry, so I haven't been fortunate to find any pearls whatsoever, dirty or otherwise.