Your thoughts on dyed black pearls?

[aprilzephyr]

I prefer to wear long necklaces (35"+) so buying a 36" rope of Tahitians isn't exactly within reasonable budget at the moment. The logical alternative would be to purchase dyed black freshwaters, and although I understand all pearls receive some sort of treatment, I don't quite understand why PP and other vendors sell black dyed FW strands for the same price as white or even pink/purple FW strands with equivalent grading. This isn't exactly comparable, but when we were researching sapphires, heat treated sapphires (all other specs being equal) were less expensive than the untreated sapphires... So I guess I just assumed dyed/treatments inherently lower a gem's value. I also noticed many forum members here prefer natural colored pearls and wondered why. Can one tell the difference between dyed and natural black pearls? Are those multicolor peacock overtones on black dyed FW comparable to Tahitians? It would be good to see a side-by-side comparison photo between dyed black FW and Tahitians if someone has both and is willing to share

 

[NacreLover]

If you look at the pearls on PP's website, they are both the same size and quality pearls. Many times when you see dyed pearls, they are using lower grade pearls to dye, this is not the case with the pearls you are comparing.

If you think about it, the black should cost more since they have had all the dying / irradiation done to them. As for, can you tell them apart? Yes, Look at the difference between the dyed black akoya and the dyed black freshwaters. Very different is shape and color and luster. If you add Tahitian pearls to the mix, they don't look like either of the first two. Why not ask PP to give you a photo with all three in one shot, so you can see the comparison for yourself?
I was going to take a photo of the dyed black freshwaters I won in a contest along with some Tahitian strands, but decided against it. My freshwaters were not AA+ grade like PP is selling so the comparison was not fair.

The first black pearls I ever purchased were dyed freshwaters. I wore them for years before I invested in Tahitian pearls. Most women who have pearls, or don't have pearls, can't tell dyed from natural, get the best quality you can afford and enjoy them.

 

[baby monster]

I have only 1 strand of dyed pearls - black fw off ebay. Bought them very cheaply before I got into quality pearls and they certainly look cheap. It's very obvious that they're dyed even though they have those green and cherry flashes of color. I haven't seen PPs dyed pearls in person but would expect them to look better than cheap eBay ones. Still, I prefer natural colors in pearls so spending money on an enhancement I don't find pleasing to the eye seems like waste of money to me.

If a long strand of Tahitians is out of budget, how about a tin cup Tahitian rope. Someone recently posted a pic of one and it looked very pretty.

 

[pearlsngems]

I have a strand of roundish 11-11.5mm ringed, dyed fwp that I bought loose and knotted up myself into an 18" strand. I love wearing them!

Although they do not look exactly like baroque Tahitians, I think ringed (circlé) dyed fwp look less different from ringed Tahitians than round, unringed fwp do unringed Tahitians. It has to do with the way the colors appear on round/unringed pearls. So if you are going to buy dyed fwp, consider ringed ones.

As far as natural colors, generally yes, I prefer natural colors. But I also prefer solid nacre over a pearl with a bead inside. And the dyed fwp are solid nacre.

 

[aprilzephyr]

Many thanks for your replies. I had asked PP for a comparison photo btwn AA+ and AAA black FW last week, but I didn't think to ask to compare them to Tahitians and they're quite swamped at the moment but will try. I'm considering ordering Tahitian pearl earrings to satisfy the black pearl itch. The tincup could be a good compromise. I haven't seen the Tahitian tincup thread - babymonster, do you remember which PS'er owned it? I'm not sure if I've come across the one you're referring to in my searches.

Here is the photo PP sent along of the AA+ and AAA black FW (AAA is the top strand) if others are curious. Beautiful in its own way IMO:

 

[NacreLover]

I have only seen one that I was considering replicating possibly with larger pearls, but that is just me.

 

[NacreLover]

As for the strands they sent you the photo of, I can't tell any difference in quality except the front is a little less round, they are both very beautiful. What size pearls are they?

 

[seaurchin]

Aprilzephyr, I don't know about pricing, but what others have said makes sense to me. About whether people like dyed pearls or not, well, I think tastes (and budgets) just vary. Personally, I have a dyed black rope with "peacock" overtones like in your PP photo, and also a dyed grey rope. I wear them lots and love them. I don't care for the obviously fakey-fake dyed pearls, like bright cranberry or bright lime green color, but I do like some of the "fun" pearls (which I would probably consider dyed freshwaters and also lower than AAA grade freshwaters) as well as the high-end stuff.

I have a pair of Tahitian earrings and would not say they look the same as my dyed black pearls. I prefer smaller pearls in an opera length or rope, and Tahitians are usually larger, so that would also be a giveaway. However, most people don't know much about pearls and would probably not know if they were dyed or not, nor even if they were real or not. Also, with the longer strands, I find off-roundness isn't very noticeable, so if budget is a concern, I'd get the AA quality. I think it's all just what you like and feel good wearing. Hope to see pics of whatever you get!

 

[bluebirrrd]

I love dyed black pearls! They aren't quite like Tahitians, although many people don't really know the difference. It's true that higher quality ones are harder to find, but they really are very beautiful when you do. I'm sure PP's are of excellent quality and I would also check The Pearl Outlet or Catherine Cardellini. Catherine has many unique and beautiful pearls. Use search to narrow things down and make a wish list, mine is long!

 

[aprilzephyr]

As for the strands they sent you the photo of, I can't tell any difference in quality except the front is a little less round, they are both very beautiful. What size pearls are they?

They're 7.5-8mm. Though I was originally interested in the 54" 6.5-7mm strand. There are a few blemishes visible on the bottom strand but they do both look great, which makes me wonder whether it's more prudent to save $ by purchasing AA+ as seaurchin suggested - afterall they are "fun" dyed FW pearls. Btw, Nacrelover, I had a look at your Tahitian pearls ages back, and remembered how struck I was by them. They're stunning. These need to make their way to me:
*edited to add photo*


bluebirrrd, I love scrolling through CC's pearls but I haven't seen any black ones that caught my eye but my wishlist is a mile long there too. I also find TPO is more expensive in the lengths I'm looking for.

 

[NacreLover]

Which strand are you talking about, my multi color strand from The Pearl Source?

 

[baby monster]

There is this post by canuk-gal showing off her fabulous tin cups [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/pearls-new-old.183165/#post-3332370#p3332370']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/pearls-new-old.183165/#post-3332370#p3332370..[/URL]. Actually, now that I reread it, the pearls are not tahitians but hopefully will give you some ideas on doing a longer necklace.

 

[aprilzephyr]

NacreLover, the PP ones in your avatar - I might've imagined the post though because I can't seem to find it again! Or maybe it was in the thread from the 4RG's PP shopping trip??

Thanks babymonster, canuk-gal's tincup is gorgeous! I have a 96" tincup I custom ordered from PP years ago with tiny 4.5-5mm AAA akoyas that I'm wearing today:

 

[movie zombie]

looks great on you, aprilz!

it does appear that one can safely utilize smaller pearls when doing multiple layering. very attractive.

 

[NacreLover]

Aprilzephyr, They get the cherry strands in from time to time. If you want some like mine call and put your name on a list, they will be going shopping again soon. The Cherry earrings I just bought when 4 ranch went to PP were not the only pearls like them. I was thinking of looking for another Cherry for a pendant or ring. A cherry tin cup would be out of this world.

Your 96 inch tin cup is beautiful. I love how it looks wrapped 3 times around your neck.

 

[caro40]

Hi, I thought I'd pitch in given my recent purchases of dyed pearls. I bought a couple of ropes from Catherine Cardellini in smallish rice pearls, one in dyed greys and one in dark greens and browns. I didn't think I liked dyed pearls until I saw these. They are AAA and unblemished. My pictures aren't great, but I have tried to show a comparison below between my new green dyed rope from Catherine and my South Sea/Tahitian necklace and another Tahitian necklace (10-12mm for comparison sake).

Some of the pearls from Catherine's necklace match some of my Tahitians in colour. While I don't think that my dyed freshwater rope could ever be mistaken for Tahitian given the size and shape (and I would be surprised if anyone could make a rope of pearls that matched so well) the effect is similar. I am a convert to dyed pearls, at least lovely ones like these. My photos aren't really doing any of the pearls justice!

Caro

 

[caro40]

Here is a photo that Catherine took before she sent to me. Her photo brings out the colours of the dyed strand. I don't think she has any more of these but I am posting to give some idea of what's out there (and happy to plug Catherine's work because she is superb).

 

[caro40]

And finally, some rather mediocre neck shots. But you get the idea.

 

[4Ranch Girl]

Caro I am in Love with your multi color ss strand because of the mixed sizes of the pearls and colors. Please tell all about that strand and make be a picture of just it? Pretty please?

 

[movie zombie]

Caro I am in Love with your multi color ss strand because of the mixed sizes of the pearls and colors. Please tell all about that strand and make be a picture of just it? Pretty please?

I 2nd that! please please please

 

[baby monster]

aprilzephyr, very pretty akoya tin cup. So delicate and lovely.


All I can say caro40, that multicolor tahitian strand is ahhh-mazing

 

[aprilzephyr]

Caro I am in Love with your multi color ss strand because of the mixed sizes of the pearls and colors. Please tell all about that strand and make be a picture of just it? Pretty please?

I 2nd that! please please please

3rd! Yes I want to know more about the SS strand please...

Caro thank so much for sharing your CC black pearls - it was very helpful to see. They look beautiful on you, with so much variation in color! And I love how you've draped them. Decisions, decisions!

NacreLover, a Tahitian tincup might have to go on a future future wish list... ahhh, Pricescope isn't good for the wallet...

And thank you, ladies, for the kind comments on my delicate tincup necklace - it's a necklace that I would describe as perfect for my younger, more self-conscious days, where "barely there" jewelry worked best. I was so self-conscious about my e-ring that I wore it turned in for months... LoL

 

[caro40]

Hello again, happy to post more pics but I don't want to take over this thread. Anyway my photos aren't great because it's night here now (was morning when I last posted, I'm in Australia), but photos are below. Some from work and some in my bathroom! Very glamorous.

The Tahitian and South Sea/Tahitian combo were both from a local jeweller who specialises in pearls. She works out of an antiques store and so while I did pay retail I did not pay wildly exorbitant retail, as in, paying for huge overheads etc. I actually did very well on the South Sea mixed rope I think - I have spent time obsessing over pearls and necklaces like this and am pleased with what I have. I have quite a collection now of these and lots of freshwaters and have only bought from this one jeweller and the wonderful Catherine Cardellini.

The Tahitian necklace is around 37 inches or so, and pearls are 10-12mm. The South Sea mix is probably more like 40 inches, with pearls ranging from 7mm or so to 16.7mm in the largest white pearl. This one was originally 33 inches but I had it lengthened and turned into a lariat - within week of buying it at 33 inches the string broke (pearls bouncing on my tiled floors! horrible), so when I took it in for restringing I made the changes. The jeweller is also looking into better clasps, like a larger basket, or one of those ring ones with a safety catch. That's for next time .

 

[caro40]

More photos. Again, my neck shots are not great but they are the best I could do. I wear the SS mix with the lariat at the front and also at the back. I get to switch my view of the pearls then -one way I have two large ones at the front and the other way I have the largest one and more bluish Tahitians. I could wear as a long necklace but tend not to much because it bounces around. I do wear long with a brooch across the front though. I also do this with the Tahitian.

That's it from me, thanks for your interest

 

[aprilzephyr]

they're gorgeous, Caro, and please do take over the thread! I'm in Australia also

 

[caro40]

Hi there! Your photo of you wearing the tin cup is so pretty. Yes, so many choices and so many decisions! Since I became infatuated with pearls I want them all............

 

[caro40]

By the way when I said the below I meant I was lucky and that it wasn't grossly expensive, not that I had any role of merit in the putting together of the strand....I reread what I had and it sounded like I had some kind of ego thing going on ....

... I actually did very well on the South Sea mixed rope I think - I have spent time obsessing over pearls and necklaces like this and am pleased with what I have.

 

[bsomlo]

aprilzephyr, your tin cup long delicate necklace is just lovely. My wish-list is becoming frightening -- as is everyone else's, I imagine...

 

[movie zombie]

caro, i'm so loving that SS strand of yours....and it looks so good on you! loving the lariat look: how long is this lariat rope?

geez, its an understatement that I want them all.

 

[4Ranch Girl]

Caro thank you for the new pictures I am in love and have serious pearl envy with that strand. You are one lucky girl