Why do real pearls turn yellow? Here is the reason

Pearls are a beautiful, classic piece of jewelry that can be worn at any age. However, many women worry that real pearls may turn yellow over time. While this is true for some types of pearls, it’s not always an indication that your pearl is less valuable or high-quality than before.

In fact, there are several ways to care for your pearls so they don’t go from white to yellow! Below we’ll cover why it happens, what causes them to turn yellow in the first place and then give you some tips on how to clean them and maintain their color if you’re worried about them turning dark in the future.

Real pearls can turn yellow

Real pearls are made from oysters. Oysters produce nacre, a type of material found in the shells of marine creatures which can be used to create an iridescent coating that mimics the luster of a pearl. Real pearls form when an irritant or parasite lodges itself within the flesh of a mollusk and causes it to secrete nacre around it, forming layers that eventually grow into what we know as real pearls.

Real pearls can turn yellow! But this isn’t necessarily bad news for their owners or collectors; discoloration is often caused by exposure to chemicals in water or air (such as chlorine), contact with other substances like makeup or perfume oils, accumulation of dirt or grime on the surface over time—and sometimes even exposure to sunlight will cause discoloration!

Now you know why your grandmother’s jewelry box was full of those little bags labeled “Not Real Pearls”; whether they were real or fake didn’t matter much back then because everyone wore them anyway!

Pearls darken with age

Natural pearls are formed over time, and will change color as they age. Natural pearls are organic and made of calcium carbonate, which is commonly found in oysters’ shells.

Natural pearls come in a wide range of colors, including white, cream and black—and can be dyed any color. The more a pearl is exposed to light (including sunlight), the more likely it is to turn yellow or brown from natural fading processes that occur with exposure to ultraviolet light rays. When polished by hand or machine polishing methods (like tumbling), these surface layers can be removed exposing the inner layers where the most intense coloration occurs—a process known as bleaching that makes them appear brighter than before.

Pearls can become yellow due to environmental factors

Why do pearls turn yellow? The traditional white luster of a pearl is made possible by the presence of nacre, a substance that lies beneath the surface of a pearl. This layer protects the pearl from becoming discolored or dulled. However, overexposure to certain elements can cause this protective layer to become damaged and expose the oyster shell’s original coloring under it.

While most people are familiar with how bleach and chlorine can damage natural hair on humans, they may not realize that these chemicals have similar effects on pearls as well: they break down the nacre coating and cause discoloration.

Exposure to smoke is another common culprit for tarnishing; even if you do not smoke yourself but live in an area where others do, smoke will eventually cause your pearls’ luster to fade over time.

Perfume or lotion residue left behind after wearing your necklace could also lead to yellowing if left on long enough; again, this is due to chemical reactions between various substances causing oxidation within your pearl’s protective layer (oxidation causes metals like brass or copper—which often form part of jewelry—to turn green).

How to clean real pearls, if they’re looking yellow

If your pearls are looking a bit yellow, here is how to clean them.

  • Use a soft brush and soapy water. Make sure the water is warm (not hot) and use a mild soap that won’t damage the pearl surface.
  • Don’t use bleach or harsh chemicals. Bleach can cause discolouration or weakening of the pearl surface (it’s fine for cleaning other things though!). Avoid using household cleaners like Windex or oven cleaner on your pearls too!
  • Don’t use ultrasonic cleaners. This type of cleaning will dry out real pearls, causing them to crack and become unstable over time if used regularly as well as making them more vulnerable to becoming damaged by heat sources such as hair dryers etcetera in future years when stored away from direct sunlight exposure each day after wearing during summer months 🙂

Pearls are beautiful and unique, but they’re not always perfect. Sometimes pearls can turn yellow or even lose their luster over time due to wear and tear. This doesn’t mean that your pearl is no longer worth your time though! If you’re looking for any more information about real pearls turning yellow or if you have any questions about our collection of pearls please contact us today!

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Understanding the Value Exploring the Intricacies of 925 China Jewelry

Depending on your perspective, purchasing jewelry from a shop or website may be either an exciting and pleasurable experience or a tedious, time-consuming process in which you feel like you’re being jerked about by the jewelry sellers. Although jewelers seldom talk about their experiences with fraud and deception, it is essential that these issues be brought into the light so that they may be prevented. Some things to think about if this is how you usually shop for jewelry, whether online or in a store. Jewelry made of silver or brass is often purchased by dishonest Chinese vendors who then apply a thin layer of gold plating and market and sell the item as real gold on online auction platforms. Most customers just shrug off a disappointing purchase as a lesson learned and post bad comments rather than bear the hassle and expense of returning an item once its actual nature has been uncovered. If a Chinese vendor’s account obtains enough bad ratings for the auction site to take action, the seller simply opens a new one and keeps on cheating. A karet weight or standard assay percentage of 92.5 percent is never used for any precious metal other than.925 Sterling Silver. How Can I Identify Between Fake and Real Sterling Silver? Even though the “925” quality mark (which indicates that the whole item is sterling silver) may be stamped on both fake and genuine sterling silver, there are a few telltale signs that you should watch out for before making a purchase. 1. Appearance Authentic sterling silver will almost never have a quality stamp affixed to it. Reason being, doing so significantly raises the item’s price. Instead, authentic sterling silver jewelry will include an in-chain or engraved tag. In addition, genuine silver has a distinct greyish tone, even when it is fresh new, whereas most fakes have a dazzling white color. This is because to the rhodium plating that gives them their distinctive white shine. Too much whiteness in sterling silver indicates that it is not real. 2. Pricing The price is another giveaway of counterfeit sterling silver. Most shops won’t sell sterling silver for less than its scrap value because of the precious metal’s inherent worth. If the cost of an item seems absurdly low, it usually is. 3. Attributes Sniffing your item is a funny and surprisingly effective approach to verify its authenticity. Genuine.925 sterling silver has no discernible odor. Smelling even a hint of copper or brass suggests that the metal is not pure 925 silver. One further way to tell whether jewelry is real is to use a polishing cloth on it. If the jewelry leaves black markings on the fabric, it is authentic. True 925 silver oxidizes when exposed to air, which is why silver is often thought to tarnish with time. What Does 925 China Mean on Jewelry? Some gold jewelry may be stamped “925 China,” but this is not a verification of sterling silver quality. 925 If you buy jewelry with the word “China” stamped on it, it signifies that the item is only 92.5% sterling silver but seems to be gold because of the plating, but is really comprised of a combination of metals. China denotes the quality of this Chinese-made 925 sterling silver jewelry. So, if you buy a piece of jewelry that looks like gold but turns out to be gold-plated, keep an eye out for the 925 China stamp. But Why Stamp Gold Jewelry With a Silver Mark? Due to the fact that behind the gold plating is sterling silver. The “925” mark has nothing to do with the gold plating on the surface; rather, it indicates the purity of the underlying silver core. Gold jewelry marked “925” or “925 China” is really silver jewelry that has been coated in a thin coating of gold; this process is known as gold vermeil (pronounced ver-may). Did you think you were buying gold but find out it was only sterling silver instead? Are you afraid about repeating your previous error? Read on, and you’ll learn how to spot fake gold and silver and identify the appropriate stamps and hallmarks to ensure you’re not duped. Is 925 China gold bracelet worth anything? A bracelet stamped “925 China gold” is almost often made of sterling silver, an alloy consisting of 92.5% silver and 7.5% additional metals. When a bracelet is advertised as “gold,” it may or may not be produced from real gold. The value of sterling silver jewelry, such as a 925 China gold bracelet, relies on its design, workmanship, brand, and the extent to which it is in demand. When compared to real gold, sterling silver jewelry is generally preferred because of its affordability, flexibility, and longevity. The bracelet’s silver content, rather than its gold content, would be used to determine its worth as a precious metal. The price of sterling silver mirrors the ups and downs of the silver market. A professional jeweler or appraiser should be consulted for an accurate valuation of the item in question.

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