How to Color Pearls
While white or off-white pearls are a traditional symbol of elegance, they can be tinted other colors as well. Coloring your pearls is an almost effortless way to revive an old piece of jewelry or to transform a classical piece of jewelry into something striking and contemporary. You need not pay a professional to dye them for you, or purchase an already colored article of pearl jewelry; you can easily color your pearls at home with dye specifically designed for pearls. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Freshwater pearls
- Gentle soap flakes
- Paper towels
- Dye
- Coffee filter or strainer
- Small plastic pitcher
- Glass pan
- Non-metal spoon
- Rubber gloves
- Eye mask
- Fine-bristled paintbrush
- Artist's fixative sealant
Instructions
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1
Wash your pearls with lukewarm water and a few sprinkles of gentle soap flakes. Pat dry with a paper towel.
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2
Mix your dye according to the manufacturer's instructions. Pour it through a strainer, such as a coffee filter, to weed out any lumps of dye. Such lumps will speckle your pearls. Catch the dye in a small plastic pitcher as you strain it.
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3
Place a paper towel on the bottom of the glass pan. Place the pearls on the paper towel. Make sure there is at least a little space between each pearl so that they can absorb the dye all around.
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4
Pour the dye directly onto the pearls until they are completely immersed. How long you leave the pearls soaking in the dye depends on how dark you want their color to be. Check on them every minute until they reach the desired shade.
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5
Allow the pearls to dry for an entire day.
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6
Brush on a light coat of artists' fixative with your clean paintbrush to seal the surface once the pearls are fully dry. Make sure you take your time when you do this, as you want to cover each pearl completely. This seal prevents the color from fading or bleeding.
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Tips & Warnings
Keep in mind that the color of the thread on a string of pearls will change color with this method, as well.
