Stone Treatments: Dying
Posted by Leah on Oct 31, 2006
Stones (and pearls) are often dyed to enhance or change their natural color to one that is deemed more desirable.
Some dyes stones will retain the color permanently, but some won’t. If you suspect that your pearls or stones are dyed, and you want to check to see how permanent the dye is, soaking them overnight in water with a *mild* soap should remove excess dye, and the color that remains is likely fairly stable and shouldn’t come off on skin or clothes. This won’t prevent fading, however, as some dyes will fade when exposed to sunlight.
Another way to preserve the color of dyed stones and pearls semi-permanently is to spray them with a varnish or laquer. There are many products out there; one affordable and easy to find option is Krylon clear in matte or shiny. This can be found in the spray paint aisle at hardware stores. Use in a well ventilated area (or outside) and be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. I wear a respirator when I use sprays to protect my lungs from the fumes.
