The color change of the Rudraksha (large) that I have been breaking-in (patina process) for half a year is really noticeable. When I first got the seeds, they were light yellow, and I was worried at that time that I wouldn't get a good breaking-in effect. After half a year, the color has obviously deepened by a whole circle. It's very intuitive to take it out for comparison, and I feel quite a sense of achievement.

Color Change in Half a Year

The change in half a year is visible to the naked eye. When I first bought them, they were light yellowish-white. After breaking-in for two months, they turned slightly yellow. By the fourth month, the color started to move towards reddish-brown. After half a year, the overall color has become a very natural yellowish-brown, and the gaps are a bit darker than the surface. My friends all say the change is obvious when they see them. This is the reward of persistence.

What the Change Depends on During Breaking-in

What does the change depend on? Half depends on sweat and oil, and half depends on brushing. In these half a year, I basically break-in for a while every day, and I must brush after breaking-in. Only when the sweat and oil in the gaps are brushed evenly can the color be uniform. I did a solid base brushing in the early stage, so the color developed quickly in the later stage. To get this effect in half a year, the base brushing is indispensable.

Small Insights from Half a Year of Breaking-in (Patina Process)

After half a year of breaking-in (patina process), I have only one insight: don't rush. The color change accumulates slowly. If you look at it every day, you won't notice the change, but when you compare it after a period of time, it's obvious. Take photos to record, compare once a month, and it will be more motivating to see it getting darker little by little. Half a year is a good node, keep breaking-in (patina process).