The is a necklace-and-earrings-set, made of fresh-water pearls. The round pearls are dyed black and the drum shaped white pearls are bleached.
The hand-knotted necklace is 25 inches long, finished with a silver plated lobster-claw clasp. The earrings are just under two inches long, with sterling silver ear-wires.
Fresh-water pearls have a naturally occurring golden sheen, the bleaching process, using hydrogen peroxide, removes (most of) the sheen.
Black fresh-water pearls are dyed using a variety of materials, both organic (aniline dyes), and inorganic (silver nitrate). The dyeing process does not remove the golden sheen from the surface of the pearl, but it does alter it. Thus a 'black' fresh-water pearl will have highlights of green, teal, or steel-blue against a background of black or very dark gray. This is often described as an oil-slick effect on the surface of the pearl.
Tags: Fresh Water Pearls, Hand-Knotted, Earrings, Necklace Set, Pearls
