Dyed Stones - Tough Enough?
 Dyed Stones: Pretty and Bright or Design Menace? Color-enhanced stones can be a tricky topic- some people are
vehement stone purists and willing to pay a premium for colorful stones
that haven't been treated in any way to enhance color. Others don't care
as long as the stone looks good and helps execute their design vision.
If
you're into dyed stones, this is a must-read. We're going to dive into
some important areas of history, production, and quality testing that
will help both you and your customers make informed decisions around
dyed stones.
If you're a stone purist, this blog *may* open
your mind a little and give you some room to expand your profit
margins, or it may just be some fun facts to add to your repertoire.
Identifying Dyed Stones Most
in the industry willingly disclose if stones have been dyed- if you're
in doubt, you can always ask the vendor, if you trust that the vendor
knows their product and that they're 100% aware of how it was produced.
In the event that you're not confident in the vendor's knowledge or
honesty, here are some things to look for to see if a stone has been
dyed.
 A quick scan of the stone surface can tell you
lots. A dyed stone will have more intense color in areas where the dye
more easily accumulates, like fractures and low-relief or pitted areas
than it does on the smoother planes. Because dye cannot easily penetrate
the *entire* stone, there may also be areas where scrapes or chips
reveal a different color beneath the surface.
Am I Taking a Risk in Buying Dyed Beads?
The
answer to that is complicated and is closely related to how the stone
was produced. If the beads were produced using best practices, you'd
literally need to use undiluted Acetone or bleach to get the color to
budge. Properly dyed beads are NOT going to lose their color through
normal wear and tear, some exposure to water, or rubbing against
clothing or skin.
That being said, there's a big
degree of trust, especially at lower price points, when purchasing dyed
stones. It's less expensive to produce dyed beads by cutting corners in
the dyeing process, so there is dyed stone on the market that's not
color-fast, and basic wear or exposure to moisture will cause the beads
to lose color or transfer the color to another surface.
 This is
where knowing your vendor and trusting their sourcing and production is
incredibly important. Many vendors are simply re-selling beads they
haven't overseen, produced, or closely inspected. Shopping based solely
on price point might be tempting as a store or designer, but can come
back in a bad way if your customers experience loss of color or damaged
clothing.
As a manufacturer, we have an extra degree
of control in the products we offer, whether dyed, heat-treated,
stabilized or untreated. We know which products have been enhanced, what
enhancement has been used, and that all treatments conform to industry
best-practices. If you ever have questions about whether or not one of
our stone types has been enhanced, please ask!
Important
Note: It's always good to remember (and remind customers) that jewelry
is not impervious. Most handmade jewelry has components that will suffer
if worn in the shower, pool, to workouts, or to bed. It's always best
to remove jewelry if you're in doubt. Plating on metal beads may
discolor or wear away, organic materials like leather, cotton, and silk
aren't fond of excess moisture, and some stone beads (like Opal and
Turquoise) are more vulnerable to damage than others. Let your customers
know to treat the finished piece like the wearable piece of art it is,
and you and they can be confident in the durability and lasting good
looks of their purchase.
 Erin, Dakota Stones
 Gary Huguenard Date 8/28/2017
Thanks Erin, good info!!
Marion Gold Date 8/28/2017
Thank you, Erin. Excellent explanation even for those of us who have been in the jewelry design business for awhile. I've always trusted Dakota Stones - and will continue to trust its quality and honesty.
When I "store-front" local shops, however, I also carry small packets of acetone to rub on the stones before I buy them. Even the best-dyed stones will literally show their true colors!
Thanks again for the quality and all the wonderful stones available from Dakota Stones!
Teddi Silver Date 8/28/2017
Thanks for this info. I remember a jewelry designer friend buying expensive Iolite beads from a foreign vendor and the first time she wore them, she had blue dye on her neck. Needless to say, she was livid. I rarely buy dyed beads and am very cautious when I do, testing them before I use them in a design. I have always been happy with the ones I buy from Dakota Stones and am very happy that you indicate they are dyed on your website.
Belinda Szarek Date 8/28/2017
Erin, I found this article to be very useful when considering the use of dyed stones. Thank you.
Cindy Date 8/29/2017
Hello Erin....Nice bit of information. I agree it's a matter of trusting your vendors. I was a little unclear about the acetone. Will all dyed stones, even if done properly, have their color come off if you rub with acetone. Or is it just improperly died stones.
Nancy Wise Date 8/31/2017
Hi Erin. Last year I bought a couple of "pendant sets" from y'all. On the invoice description (TQSBRZ-PT-PEN-7) it says turquoise composite with bronze pointed 7 piece pendant set. Does this mean the stones are turquoise or that they are turquoise colored? The second set (TQSBRZ-PEN-7) says turquoise colored composite & bronzite rectangle 7 piece. The stones look exactly the same in turquoise color but are different shapes. I just would like to know what to say to my customers. Also one say bronze, the other bronzite. Which is it on this as well?
Dorothy Reminick Date 8/27/2019
I have an agate bead necklace which I bought about 40 years ago. The colors have faded & I am wondering if they can be redyed or repainted. Pl. advise.
Thank you.
shelia gephart Date 12/9/2019
Good article, while I prefer to work with “naturally colored” stones, some of my customers don’t really care. Key word there, “some”. Therefore, it is of the highest importance to me that a supplier be honest and price accordingly. Legitimate business is entirely depend the upon honesty. I try my best with all of my customers, stating on tags whether a stone is dyed and stabilized. However, my word is only as good as my suppliers claims. Suppliers must remember, their success is dependent upon retailers such as myself. And that My business is dependent on the satisfaction of My customers. Dishonesty will Always come back to bite you in the butt! Thanks for the info.
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