Seed pearl necklace with discolored 14K gold needs help please

[Torie]

Hi everyone, newbie here! Well, new to posting, but a longtime occasional lurker who has always appreciated the expertise generously shared in this community.

I recently purchased a necklace, though I hesitated due to discoloration of the gold. My guess is that the glue used for the seed pearls caused this "tarnish." I’d love advice on how to restore the gold to something closer to its original color. While I can probably brighten the gold in areas without pearls using a polishing cloth, I’m unsure about the spots near the pearls and whether it’s possible to brighten the pearls themselves.

I’ve seen threads here recommending Lavish cleaner and Jewel Bright, both of which are reportedly safe for pearls but may loosen the glue. Would that necessarily be a bad thing? If the glue loosens, could I safely remove the pearls, clean the gold, and reattach the pearls with a modern adhesive? (I'm most definitely no jeweler, but my crafting skills are passible.)

Alternatively, would it be better to have a professional restore the piece? If so, what might they do, and how much could it cost?

I’d really appreciate any guidance or suggestions, including whether this post is in the right place. Thanks in advance!

-Torie

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Hi everyone, newbie here! Well, new to posting, but a longtime occasional lurker who has always appreciated the expertise generously shared in this community.

I recently purchased a necklace, though I hesitated due to discoloration of the gold. My guess is that the glue used for the seed pearls caused this "tarnish." I’d love advice on how to restore the gold to something closer to its original color. While I can probably brighten the gold in areas without pearls using a polishing cloth, I’m unsure about the spots near the pearls and whether it’s possible to brighten the pearls themselves.

I’ve seen threads here recommending Lavish cleaner and Jewel Bright, both of which are reportedly safe for pearls but may loosen the glue. Would that necessarily be a bad thing? If the glue loosens, could I safely remove the pearls, clean the gold, and reattach the pearls with a modern adhesive? (I'm most definitely no jeweler, but my crafting skills are passible.)

Alternatively, would it be better to have a professional restore the piece? If so, what might they do, and how much could it cost?

I’d really appreciate any guidance or suggestions, including whether this post is in the right place. Thanks in advance!

-Torie

oh its rather beautiful

 

[yssie]

If the pearls are loosened they are easily reattached with epoxy,

I personally wouldn't hesitate to give it a thorough cleaning and just deal with any pearls that might come loose. But I don't mind the occasional experiment - my risk tolerance may be higher than most people's.

 

[Torie]

Thank you both for your replies.

I changed my avatar to a photo of the necklace taken with unrealistic lighting to better illustrate the effect I hope to approach.

 

[Lookinagain]

It's a really pretty piece. If you decide to clean it yourself, please come back with the before and after photos. I can't give you cleaning advice as I know nothing about pearl jewelry.

 

[LightBright]

What is the piece made of? Is it for example 18k gold? Or 9k?

The tarnish could be from metal content for example. You could try to polish using guidance above in an unobtrusive spot on the necklace and see what happens.

 

[Torie]

It is 14K gold. At least that is the claim - I purchased it but have not received it yet. It is puzzling that in some places, the gold is quite discolored even some distance away from the pearls.