What causes pearls to turn yellow? What should I do if my pearls turn yellow and dark?

Pearls are the queen of jewelry and are loved by many women who love beauty. But after wearing them for a long time, some people's pearls turn yellow. What is the reason for the yellowing of pearls? What should we do if the pearls turn yellow and dark? The following editor will explain them one by one, hoping to help you.

Why do pearls turn yellow?

1. A pearl is composed of 90% calcium carbonate and 4% water and other substances. After the pearl leaves the shell, the water will gradually dissipate and the pearl will appear yellow.

2. The calcium carbonate inside the pearl originally exists in the form of "aragonite", but after a long time, the calcium carbonate on the surface will easily turn into "calcite". Their chemical composition is calcium carbonate (CaCo3), but visually, calcite is yellow, which is the biggest reason why pearls turn yellow.

What to do if pearls turn yellow and dark

1. Soak the yellowed pearls in dilute hydrochloric acid. At this time, bubbles begin to appear on the surface of the pearls, which means that the yellowed substances on the surface are dissolving. At this time, the pearls should be taken out quickly, rinsed with water, and wiped clean. The soaking time is difficult to control, and this action should be performed by professionals.

2. As pearls have weak resistance to acid and alkalinity and cannot withstand the erosion of sweat, they should be wiped with a clean soft cloth regularly to remove dust and dirt on the surface of the pearls. When wiping, soft paper or soft cloth containing silicone oil can be used.

3. Pearls are afraid of acid, alkali and loss of water, so they should not be exposed to the sun or in a high temperature environment; they should also be kept away from vinegar, alcohol, perfume, powder, hair oil and other cosmetics and all kinds of strong acid and strong alkali substances to prevent harmful substances from eroding and fading or losing their luster.

Will pearls become brighter the more you wear them?

Generally speaking, yes, pearls will become brighter the more you wear them. However, you need to be very particular about how you wear them and know how to maintain them. If you are careless and don't pay attention, they will be easily damaged and scratched. Because pearls are relatively soft gems that are easily corroded by acids and alkalis, you should pay special attention to their maintenance.