SOUTH SEA QUALITY PEARLS FROM THE PHILLIPPINES:

PEARL NATURAL

PEARL TREATMENT: NONE 25.25 CARATS

South Sea Cultured pearls are not treated the notable exception are “Black” 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.

Artificial yellow and golden colours now come mainly from Japan, where different methods are apparently used. Some companies are supposed to use organic dyes, which have the disadvantage, however, that they fade under strong light and tend to develop an irregular distribution of colour. Other companies are reported to neither apply bleaching nor dyeing but to use a method which has remained undisclosed so far, but produces a permanent colour change.

The sale of artificially dyed pearls is only a problem if the treatment is not declared. The artificial golden colours are therefore not really a danger to the market, but they are not good for the image of the South Sea cultured pearl, as they create uncertainty. The majority of treated pearls are sold without disclosure.

The lower prices do, however, reflect the facts and buyers should be on the alert. It cannot be denied that artificially dyed pearls of strong golden colours are occasionally offered on the market for the same high prices as natural golden pearls. This means that the consumer can only rely on the integrity of the jeweller and the jeweller is well advised to buy only from reliable importers and dealers.