Pearls melting in vinegar ?

[that_someone_special]

My lil bro (ok, he''s 17) read on his smartphone, in a fact app that pearls melt in vinegar.

Ok, at first I didn''t believe him, and we argued back and forth that it would or wouldn''t. BUT, since most pearls are cultured, I bet him $100

*smacks head* that a "average" pearl wouldn''t melt all of the way. I''m guessing the outside of it will, while the bead won''t? Anyone know? I plan on testing this later... well on a FW one that I have as extra.

Now I''m going crazy and thinking people could (jokingly) start a PETA movement for the oysters. Splash vinegar on those hooligans wearing pearls I kid, but I could see it in a movie maybe... red paint and vinegar.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Acetic acid (vinegar) will eat away the nacre of a pearl, so he''s not wrong, but it won''t immediately dissolve in the liquid. The alcohol in perfume will also eat away the luster/nacre on pearls.

 

[that_someone_special]

Yes, I do know that. I am wondering if this fact is only for natural pearls though vs. cultured...?

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

I don''t know why there''d be a difference. Chemically they''re the same, the cultured pearls are just seeded.

 

[elle_chris]

I think if you kept them in vinegar long enough, it''s probably true. Cultured or natural shouldn''t make a difference. But hey, let us know with the freshie

If there was a movement to "save the oysters", i don''t know if i''d be madder about not eating them, vs no pearls.. they''re delicious

 

[gardengloves]

Isn''t there some great Cleopatra/ Mark Antony banquet where she dissolved one of the biggest pearls in history in vinegar and drank it on a bet?

Searching but can''t find the source of the legend.

 

[that_someone_special]

LOL I don''t have any vinegar! I will let you all know.

So, what exactly are cultured pearls cultured with? I get the process, but what is that little white bead made out of?

 

[PumpkinPie]

Date: 3/10/2010 10:02:53 PM
Author: swedish bean
So, what exactly are cultured pearls cultured with? I get the process, but what is that little white bead made out of?

I would love to know the answer to this!

 

[that_someone_special]

FI said he will bring some Vinegar home after work tomorrow. I will attempt pictures too

 

[pearlie]

Cultured marine (saltwater) pearls are seeded with a bead nucleus and a piece of freshly harvested mantel tissue.

The bead is usually (but not always) mother of pearl shell.

Freshwater pearls are nucleated (usually) with only a piece of tissue.

julie.

 

[LGK]

OK mini threadjack: if alcohol based perfume damages pearls, does oil based perfume with no chemicals? That''s typically what I wear, but I try to only put it on my wrists when I''m wearing pearls around my neck (which is like always these days, the diamond pendant hasn''t been out to play in quite a while!)

BTW Swedish, that''s absolutely hilarious that your little bro talked you into a $100 bet about pearls. It just tickles me for some reason!

 

[pearlie]

Perfumes are chemicals, whether natural oil based or not. Best to keep them away from your pearls, as you''re already doing.

Pearls are organic, and as with most organic matter, they''re porous. Just take care with them. A little perfume behind the ear is not going to harm your pearl jewelry.

Over time some perfumes may damage pearl nacre if it comes in contact with the pearls, some perfumes may discolor and stain pearl nacre. Let''s not find out for certain which perfume does what.

Perfumes, lotions, make up, hairspray.....all this goes on first. Then take out your pearls and put them on. If they''re out while you''re getting dressed, cover them with a clean cloth to protect them from ''overspray'', etc.

julie.

 

[that_someone_special]

I have 5 pearls (very very tiny lavender ones, rice shaped, no need to kill me

) resting in a glass cup in vinegar.

Does anyone think the type of vinegar matters? It's white, distilled. In tiny print it says water was added to make it less acidic.. didn't see that until after I opened the bottle.

I watched the pearls for about 3 mins, got bored and I'm going to let it rest over night.

 

[that_someone_special]

OK 6 hrs later.

No melting. I think the outside layer has peeled and they all are a "stained" color. They were very lavender and now they are a light brownish lav. I think I need a different kind of pearl. Actually I bet they would "melt" faster in a bottle of coke!

 

[that_someone_special]

OK it''s been like 24 hrs.

They have not melted. I played with some of them around lunch time. They DID feel softer. The outer layers seem to be shedding, not melting.

I think I need something more than 5% acidic.

The cool thing though, is that once they shed, they are SUPER SHINY underneath. Until that layer sheds.


SO WEIRD. I''m going to target tomorrow and I''m going to see if vinegar comes in something higher than 5%

 

[tapio]

Hi Tapio,

I''m interested in this is as well as vinegar is acidic and the person I''m thinking of buying pearls for has very high acidic skin (high uric acid levels - which is being treated). But, a good quality leather watch band only lasted for about a year before parts of it started to come apart. The horologist immediately identified it as acidic skin. He had not been told about the high uric acid levels.

Are pearls a good option for this person?

Tapio