More Vintage Baroque Akoyas (?)

[mausketeer]

I think they are anyways....... I'm pretty sure they are (so I bought them). Don't think they are the highest quality but I'm sort of on a roll with buying baroque akoyas right now - lol. They were pretty cheap too (again, under $100).......

Thoughts? Strand is 26 inches long. Not sure how large the pearls are. They were described as about 1/4 inch (not sure how big that is in millimetres)......

- Jodie -

 

[BeadersSecret]

Yes they are akoya, they are very good value for under $100.00, they look 8mm/9mm.

 

[Nerida]

1/4 inch is roughly 6mm, slightly more. Like Bernadette, I would estimate these to be closer to 8mm. Great buy for the price!

 

[mausketeer]

Awesome! 'Cause I just bought ANOTHER strand for even CHEAPER! lol (MUSTSTOPBUYINGVINTAGEPEARLS!!!!!) This 26 inch strand was $82 and the new strand I just bought was $75. I'll post photos........

 

[mausketeer]

This is a double strand, 15.5" long and the pearls are smaller (5.5mm). I think they're a bit nicer though than that last strand.......

 

[mausketeer]

Multi-Coloured Vintage Baroque Akoyas

Multi-Coloured Vintage Baroque Akoyas

So I got my FIRST strand of vintage baroque akoya - the ones that were wrongly advertised as being "Tahitians" because of the colour? Wow, they are just beautiful! They are mainly silver but some are very blue, some purple, some greenish and some a bit golden (not sure if these ones are discoloured?) Here are the photos. Not sure about the colour of the nucleus there? It seems to be a dark GREY. Is that normal? I'd say maybe four or five will need to be removed when they are restrung because of damage at the hole but they are 30 inches long so that's okay....... in any case, I LOVE them (and it just makes me want REAL Tahitians even MORE!) Forgot to mention they are just a smidge over 6mm - between 6 and 7 I'd say.

I just can't believe that this is the NATURAL natural colouration of some akoyas and it gets REMOVED!!!! I hope in the future you will see more NON-BLEACHED akoyas - I think they're quite lovely...... very subtle.

 

[pattye]

Jodie,

Beautiful pearls, and seems like they are even prettier in person! As you say, plenty on each necklace, even if a few have to be discarded. Be sure to show us when they are restrung.

 

[KarinK]

I just can't believe that this is the NATURAL natural colouration of some akoyas and it gets REMOVED!!!! I hope in the future you will see more NON-BLEACHED akoyas - I think they're quite lovely...... very subtle.

I couldn't agree more! I was at a gem faire and the sight of rows upon rows of identically white, pinked Akoyas made me turn around on the spot and leave that booth. I have heard from Sarah at Kojima, though, that a few will actually dye useless coloured Akoyas to a "natural" colour and market them as "natural colour Akoya", meaning that the colour scheme matches their naturally occuring colours.

Yours look lovely!

- Karin

 

[Nora]

Grey nucleus? Could this indicate that the pearls were irridated?

 

[mausketeer]

Oh, irradiated? That's how they used to colour akoyas, right? Awww, they're not naturally coloured? Bummer! What's the process like? Sounds like X-ray but I assume it's something different?

 

[mausketeer]

So I've been trying to find out more information about irradiation of pearls. Very interesting! From what I understand, they would do it with the lower quality pearls (of course, makes sense) to increase the desirability. It seems like it wasn't done for very long though? Maybe 20 or 30 years? Then I guess dying got better and they stopped (plus it must have been very expensive to have the equipment I imagine). I am guessing that they must have "zapped" the pearls prior to them being put onto the hanks, right? Otherwise how would you know how the colour would turn out? (since it only affects the nucleus and not the nacre. If they were already on hanks you could have one that was dark and one very light). But mine are rather all over the place colour wise anyways. I don't know what the original colour would have been....... Were they trying to make them look like Tahitians? Or just a prettier colour of Akoya?

Anyone know more about it? I am loving everything new I'm finding out about pearls!

- Jodie -

 

[KarinK]

I am under the impression that akoyas are still being irradiated. I don't see how it would be possible to dye the nucleus. I was thinking too, when you said that the nucleus was dark, that your vintage pearls might have been treated to display a colour that does occur naturally in akoyas, but I just don't know enough about akoyas to be sure of any of it.

Hopefully some of the experts will enlighten us soon

- Karin

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

I don't see how it would be possible to dye the nucleus.

Through the drilled holes.

These pearls appear dyed or possibly radiated because the nucleus and nacre are the same color.

 

[pattye]

I thought the lighter gray freshwater pearls were irradiated.

 

[mausketeer]

Oh, they're still doing it? I thought it was an old technique that they discontinued....... shows how much I need to learn!

Oh please stop me I just bought ANOTHER necklace!!!!! (I better start selling some of these........) LOL

When I get them all in-hand I'll have to decide which to break down and which to keep.......

 

[KarinK]

Oh please stop me I just bought ANOTHER necklace!!!!! (I better start selling some of these........) LOL

Well, as long as the prices are great I bet you won't regret it You can make an Akoya rope! Or several individual length neclaces you can layer. Or use the same clasp on several necklaces so you can connect them and make them longer. There are bracelets (the more the merrier), chandalier earrings... Endless hours of fun

- Karin

 

[Nerida]

Yes Pattye you are right - the light grey freshwater pearls are mostly irradiated. There is a naturally occurring grey freshwater (from the lavender strain) but almost all that are commercially available are irradiated.

 

[mausketeer]

Well, as long as the prices are great I bet you won't regret it You can make an Akoya rope! Or several individual length neclaces you can layer. Or use the same clasp on several necklaces so you can connect them and make them longer. There are bracelets (the more the merrier), chandalier earrings... Endless hours of fun

- Karin

And don't forget my CATS! Don't you think Siamese are just CRYING out to be layered in pearls? LOL (quite literally I might add........ this is my Jasper - silly boy)