Pearl Treatments

PEARL TREATMENTS

BLEACHING: To remove, lighten ( make whiter) or alter ( from light to dark) color by means of chemical and/or physical agents or light. This process can make the color look more even.

BUFFING:To remove organic residues from the surfaces of natural and cultured pearls following harvest.

POLISHING :This technique is applied to natural and cultured pearls to remove some surface blemishes and increase luster.

COATING: To spread an artificial layer of substance over the pearl surface or part of the surface. It aims to change pearls color or improve pearl luster. Good quality pearls do not have to be coated to look lustrous.

FILLING: If a pearl is partially hollow or has a loose nucleus, the void can be filled with an epoxy substance which will make the pearls more solid and improve their durability. Fillings can be detected with x-rays.

IRRADIATION :When light color pearls are bombarded with gamma rays, the irradiated pearls will achieve an iridescent bluish or greenish gray color. This method works well on freshwater pearls and can be used with dyeing.

OILING: is also used to improve luster.

DYEING: Any color caused artificially by the application of a dye to pearls can be called dyeing. Dyeing is the most often used technique to get colorful pearls that people want. Dyed pearls are not fakes, but people can get them much easier than pearls of natural color. They fulfill people’s desire of special fashion in different occasions while costing less.