Yellowed pearls

[StevieBoy]

Hello friends!

So, my mom pulled a rope of freshwater pearls out of storage and they have yellowed



They were white once when i gave them to her, but they are now an ivory color. Luckily they still retain their luster

Ive googled and seen articles about how acetone/nail polish remover can remove the yellowing?

Is that true? It wont harm the proteins/minerals in the pearl itself?

 

[pearlescence]

Try simply washing them first, before throwing chemicals.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

I've never heard of yellowing being reversed.

 

[MotherOfPearlTrumpet]

Almost everything organic changes with age...my skin is proof!

 

[pearlescence]

I've never heard of yellowing being reversed.

Yellowing- at least pronounced yellowing - usually only happens with imitation pearls. I've seen lots of two thousand or so year old pearls in museums and they are still white.

 

[pattye]

This severe yellowing is new to me also. I've never heard of a way to remove it. Glad to know the luster is still there. Fw pearls tend to be more ivory than SS white.

 

[StevieBoy]

Im looking at the pearls in another light, and i think i panicked and overreacted

They are still ivory white. Im gonna give them a gentle clean when we get back home.

 

[pattye]

Wow, is that ever good news!!

 

[BWeaves]

I read somewhere that pearls can yellow if stored in a box and never worn. I say wash them and wear them against your skin to bring them back to life.