Soaking dyed pearls

Jewelry Discussion
1

Before I string pearls or any semi precious stones, I soak them in
water (sometimes boiling) to remove the excess dye. Sometimes, the
excess comes off in one soaking and sometimes it will take a month
(changing the water multiple times a day). Sometimes, when I think
most of the dye is on the string, I remove the string. Is there any
other method of removing excess dye? What should I be asking my
vendors before I buy the pearls. Is there a dye that doesn’t come
off?

Thank you for any help!
Gail Andersen

2 
   Before I string pearls or any semi precious stones, I soak them
in water (sometimes boiling) to remove the excess dye.

Why, may I ask , do you buy dyed material in the first place? :-\
They dye inferior materials so that they look better and are
therefor more saleable. Seems to me that when you remove the dye
you simply have inferior material which you could have bought in the
first place without the added expense.

Jerry in Kodiak {I’m on a roll tonight) :wink: