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What is the Toning Process for Akoya Pearls?

Akoya pearls generally evoke an image of white, but when the raw pearls are freshly removed from the shell, most of them are yellowish, ranging from off-white to cream, and many also show black spots inside.

Therefore, Akoya pearls are typically subjected to the following processes:

・"Pre-treatment"
A process to enhance the pearl's luster.

・"Bleaching"
A base treatment process where a hole is drilled about halfway through areas with spots or protrusions, and a special solution is used to remove the overall yellowness and spots from the entire pearl.

・"Toning Process"
In the above steps, the Akoya pearl loses its inherent reddish tint, so a small amount of red dye is added over time to replenish the color inside the nacre layer.
This is not a dyeing (coloring) process, but a mild process recognized as an enhancement treatment, aimed at restoring the inherent beauty of the material and stabilizing its color to prevent discoloration over time.
This process does not diminish the value of the pearl.

Regardless of whether they have undergone toning, pearls are valued as precious gems. When purchasing, please choose what you like best.

What are Untoned Akoya Pearls?

"Untoned Akoya pearls" are pearls that have not undergone the "toning process" after the base treatment.

Untoned Akoya pearls include the following types:
・Those that have only undergone "pre-treatment"
・Those that have undergone "bleaching"
※Those that have undergone "bleaching" are characterized by being mostly whitish with very little reddish tint.

Pearls described as "natural color" or "natural color" refer to pearls that have not been "bleached."

Untoned Akoya pearls with beautiful fancy natural colors

About Blue and Gray Akoya Pearls

As pearls grow, nacre layers accumulate.
During this process, a type of organic matter produced by the shell enters the nacre layers, resulting in blue or gray hues.

It is rare for organic matter to cover the entire pearl; in most cases, it enters locally, similar to the "spotted pearls" seen in "raw pearls."
Even pearls that appear entirely blue or gray at first glance will have uneven distribution of organic matter, resulting in color variations and spots.

Additionally, as organic matter enters the layers, it causes shifts in their accumulation, which is why blue and gray Akoya pearls tend to be baroque in shape or have distorted surfaces.

At sCenes, we handle "untoned" and "natural color" blue and gray Akoya pearls, including "Umibotaru," that have minimal color unevenness and spots, and are beautifully colored.

Raw Akoya pearls