Bleaching FWs

[pearlescence]

Can anyone tell me the recipe for bleaching some murky freshwaters - they are the tail end of all my untreateds and look like they are heavily nicotine stained!
thanks
wendy

 

[Nerida]

Wendy, I am sure I have seen something in this forum regarding bleaching - I think including pictures, and maybe in a post of Terry's somewhere? It is about the lights as well as the composition of the solution used. I will see if I can find it..

 

[Nerida]

Found it:

https://www.pearl-guide.com/forum/freshwater-pearls/2547-how-do-you-bleach-f-w-pearl.html

 

[Sueki]

Or you could have a go at peeling them Wendy ?
Maybe these are good candidates for some experimenting...

 

[Raisondetre]

Pretty sure it was hydrogen peroxide plus UV light under controlled temps. As a reference point human hair is bleached with 6-10% so you will have to dilute it accordingly. Also, the usual drugstore formulations come with stabilizers that can accumulate in whatever you use it on - more a problem for plants than pearls, but just so you know.

 

[pearlescence]

Well, I called at the chemists on the way back from shipping today and got a small bottle of 9% hydrogen Peroxide. Now some pearls are soaking away. I'll report back as and when they dissolve, turn white, turn purple. explode. do nothing at all....none of the above but something else entirely.

 

[GemGeek]

Now we all have to be patient...

 

[pearlescence]

la la la la la la.....lalala..la la

 

[GemGeek]

la la la la la la.....lalala..la la

Yeah, go ahead and torment me.

 

[pearlescence]

Update: They already look whiter today and the nicotine colour has become a soft gold in places...I might take some out now as it is rather pretty and not so ***-ash-Lil

 

[Amrita]

Looks like the experiment was successful! Congratulations, Wendy!

 

[pearlescence]

I've been asterisked!
at least they have not dissolved or exploded (yet!)

 

[Sueki]

I've been asterisked!
at least they have not dissolved or exploded (yet!)

That word has different meanings in other parts of the world.......