Dyed or Naturally Colored South Sea & Tahitian Pearls?

[PotatoPia]

Hi all!

I’ve been wanting to purchase some South Sea Pearls from an online seller stationed at Greenhills Manila. She assured me that her SSPs and Tahitians are naturally colored, but I have reason to suspect that they might not be. Her prices are way too cheap, so I fear that her pearls might be too good to be true- even by Philippine standards! She claims she has a certificate of authenticity though, and she’s posted photos of some of her satisfied clients.

I still need help though. Thank you!

 

[ericw]

Hi PotatoPia! Unfortunatly, your first reply is not from a real Expert, but I think that black tahitian pearls are true, not dyed, and if gold SSP are dyed... it's very well done, even surprising. Now, the floor to the experts

 

[Katbran]

I don't see a problem with any of the Tahitians - I don't know why you think they are dyed. And the white ones...not sure why they are posted..you think they are dyed ? The only ones to question are the gold. I've seen gold that were dyed so well that if they hadn't told me I wouldn't have known as they were a mid - light gold and they had just taken the colour up a notch. They told me straight away that it was enhanced. Hence a better price than the light gold strands. If they are super cheap I'd be suspicious. The first photo they look ok .. a bit of green which is not unusual. The third photo , they look exactly the same colour and seem a bit red but there is also something in the reflection that is red so I don't know if it's effecting the colour. We need someone with more expertise in dyed gold pearls.

 

[LondonPearl]

The 3rd Photo - with the "loose" pair being held looks suspiciously orange.... at least on my screen ....though I don't think its possible to tell from a photograph whether the pears are natural colour or not. The over 'orange' pearls are often South Sea that have been colour enhanced.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Was there supposed to be a photo of a certificate in post #2? I don't see one. Try posting it again.

I am not an expert in dyed golden south sea pearls, but my first impression of the pearls in the red box and the 2 on the card was that the color is so deep and uniform that they could very well be dyed, if the price is too good to be true.

I have pulled up several threads and posts about Geenhills; you may want to have a read:

Greenhills Tour Page 3 has a discussion on pearls that are dyed.

SSP Philippines (Read especially posts 32, 33, 34 and 35)


Are these "Palawan golden south sea pearl" authentic and worth their selling price?

[h=1]My birthday present[/h]

 

[PotatoPia]

Thank you for the links you provided. They really helped.

 

[PotatoPia]

Additional Pictures

Additional Pictures

Thank you for the replies everyone! As of now, I've pretty much settled with the fact that most, if not all of her gSSPs were dyed. And that's okay because her prices are 10 times cheaper as that of Jewelmer's. I'm still considering buying a pair of 12mm champagne studs (1st picture) from her to match the pendant I have.

 

[Katbran]

If they are very inexpensive and you are ok with them being enhanced - even lighter ones can be enhanced - then fine.

The certificate is useless as they are issuing it themselves..they can claim whatever they want.

LP is right it’s too hard to tell if they are dyed from a photo but at a glance more likely the 2&3 photos are not natural colours , they are a solid colour , exactly the same and the colour seems ‘off’ .

 

[PotatoPia]

I see.. Thank you. I’ll definitely keep that in mind. Especially now that she just recently posted a photo of her new “Grade AAA Quality” golden champagne pearls.

 

[Katbran]

I wouldn't consider them Champagne .. they are quite dark in the photo . Also they don't look completely round but I suppose that could be the angle and shadows. Personally I don't like the colour..they are all exactly the same shade. But if they work for you and they are cheap and you aren't worried about them being dyed .. go for it. But, again depending on the price..I'd save up and buy something good.

 

[CrazyMissy]

Most people in the Philippines refer to gssps as champagne pearls. I had to bring my mother to a Jewelmer shop to correct that; pearl education can be really expensive.

 

[PotatoPia]

Ah yes, that’s true. I bought a champagne SSP pendant (much lighter compared to the ones in the photo) from Jewelmer months ago and it set me back about 1,500$. I’ve been wanting to purchase a pair of earrings to go with it, but the cheapest they currently have in stock costs 2000$. That’s why I’m willing to compensate for a possibly dyed pair for now. The seller I’m referring to sells a pair of 12mm champagne SSPs for only 90$.

I’m sure your mother must love the pearls you bought for her.

 

[PotatoPia]

Yeah, her description really confused me. The shade doesn’t look nearly as close as to the official color chart that Jewelmer refers to. But then again, it could be the lighting? And I get what you mean about saving up to purchase naturally colored SSPs, but Jewelmer’s prices are just way out of my reach at the moment. I guess I could look for other honest sellers, but they’re really hard to find.

 

[ericw]

Anyway, If these pearls are dyed, that would be seen to observe the hole: if deeper nacre is white, in contrast of the first layers, it will be a doubt.
A little comment: pure gold metal real colour is very unusual to see, every jewels are made with gold alloies.
I have often seen native gold: colour is lighter than Jewelmer's standard, but darker than most of jewels.
The two 12/13mm pearls shown on photos are near right coloured as native gold.
Gold colour is a delicate balance with primary yellow and a bit of magenta and black, and, of course, must have a metallic effect.

 

[pearlescence]

Not necessarily ericw. Quite often pale gold SS are dyed a deeper gold as it is more valuable.
Champagne SS pair set as earrings for $90. No chance. Even freshwater for that price would be suspect. Pearls really do cost what they cost, unless you are also paying a premium for a posh brand

 

[ericw]

Pearlescence, I agree with you, but to turn pale gold in darker seems to me a very difficult process: nacre is already yellow, and to add the right small quantity of red and black to make gold... it's not a simple way!
Here is a photo of a yellow SSP, in my opinion: the difference is easy to do with hook's colour.

 

[PotatoPia]

I can tell these were definitely dyed

 

[PotatoPia]

No chance that they weren’t dyed or no chance that they’re real pearls? I hope you mean the former, because I’ve been led to believe that although her prices are cheaper than most, other sellers stationed in Palawan sell their pearls in the same- if not at a cheaper price.

This lady seemed to have snagged a pair of champagne SSP earrings for about the same price.
https://www.pearl-guide.com/forum/showthread.php?9642-Earrings-from-Greenhills

 

[pearlescence]

I see trays and trays of them in HK. En masse they have a sort of brown-ish ear waxy look. not so easy to tell with single pearls or single strands. But when all together, very very easy.
Grace is dyeing thousands of edison strands to deep gold - again, they have a brown tinge when piled in a tray
The chance that these are real SS at that price...well, if you want to risk your money, but I could not buy a decent pair of any sort of round matched SS wholesale for that price.

 

[JerseyPearl]

Such an interesting discussion!

Wendy, I am wondering if other colors are being dyed by Grace...do you have any insight?