Beautiful blues?

Pearls&Pugs · Jan 24, 2025

Hello fellow pearl lovers!

In the last year, I’ve been working at a small jewellery store where I get to restring and identify pearls for customers (such fun!). This one has me a bit stumped though. Do you think these are enhanced/dyed blue akoya or is the colour natural? Thank you for any insights you can share with me!

pattye · Jan 24, 2025

Agreed, P&P, what a fun job! When you look down the holes, does the nucleus look dark? It's possible the pearls were irradiated to deepen the color. My thought is some kind of treatment.

Pearls&Pugs · Jan 24, 2025

Yes, it looks quite dark inside the drill hole. They are also smooth and round for the most part, which leads me to think they are irradiated (am I correct in thinking that natural blue Akoya often have a baroque shape and some colour inconsistencies, since it’s the organic matter included in the nacre that gives the pearl it’s illusory blue colour?). It’s fun to test and grow my knowledge by seeing all kinds of different pearls come in for restringing!

Pearl Dreams · Jan 24, 2025

The brownish matter that appears blue through the layers of clear nacre is exuded by the gonad when it is cut open to insert the bead.
It coats the nucleus, and the clear nacre is laid over it. If the nacre is thin, the pearl will look tan instead of bluish.

Beautiful blues?

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