Cultured pearls
Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009A pearl is a valued gemstone that is naturally created by a marine-based organism called a mollusk.Natural pearls are extremely rare and hard to find.This is why many of the pearls that are available to consumers today are cultured pearls.
There are three types of cultured pearls: Chinese cultured freshwater pearl, South Sea cultured pearls and Tahitian cultured pearls.
Chinese Freshwater Cultured Pearls
Freshwater Pearls come in white and pastel colors from pink to purple all other colors should be considered dyed.
In 1997, artificially dyed black Chinese freshwater cultured pearls in round shapes and sizes of up to 11 mm were offered on the market in Hong Kong. Since then, large quantities have reached the international market, where they can be purchased at reasonable to low prices. They have an astonishing resemblance to Tahitian cultured pearls, as they almost perfectly replicate the green to purple overtones and are already called “peacock pearls” in the Asian pearl trade.
Several companies in Hong Kong offer the treatment and are often speaking of “laser treatment”. However, this is not true and neither is irradiation used. Although the exact method has not yet been made known, it is probably correct to assume that silver salts and other coloring agents are used.
South Sea Cultured Pearls
South Sea Cultured pearl jewelry are not treated the notable exception are “Golden” colored pearls Golden pearls are a natural South Sea color but some are dyed.
The artificial coloration of South Sea cultured pearls is a more problematic issue, as it imitates yellow and golden hues which also occur naturally the coloration represents an improvement or even a deception and it cannot always be easily distinguished from natural colors.
Since 1994, a wholesaler from New York has offered artificially colored South Sea cultured pearls on the market. He uses un drilled pearls of an originally light green or light yellow body color and otherwise good quality factors and bleaches and subsequently treats them with a chemical dye. Another company from New Jersey applies a heat treatment.
Tahitian Cultured Pearls
Most Tahitian cultured pearls are not treated the notable exception are “Chocolate” colored pearls.The method is also used for Tahitian cultured pearls, where light colored pearls of a low color range are dyed black (originally, white South Sea cultured pearls from other countries may have been used for the same purpose). Artificially dyed pearls are found in a variety of sizes and shapes, and they are above all seen in large, so-called circle shapes.
