Caring for Pearls
South Sea pearls are delicate and require correct care to maintain their best appearance; they can’t be maintained the same way as your other jewellery.
How to Clean Pearls
- After every wear, your pearls should be wiped with a soft cloth to help prevent any buildup of oils or other substances that may have come in contact with your jewellery throughout the day.
- Clean with a damp cloth only as needed. Visibly stained pearls can be cleaned with a solution of lukewarm water and mild wasking up liquid. Dip a soft cleaning cloth in it and wipe the pearls. NEVER submerge a pearl necklace in water, as it will weaken the silk thread.
- Let your pearls dry all the way before returning to storage. Again, this helps preserve the elasticity of the silk strand.
- Take them to your jeweller once a year to check the integrity of your pearl bracelets and necklaces. While you want to wear your pearls often to keep them hydrated, body oil doesn’t do the silk thread any favours. They can also give them a thorough, safe cleaning.
- NEVER clean pearls with a steam or ultrasonic jewellery cleaner. Either of those methods risk damage to the outer layer of the pearl.
Pearl Maintenance Tips
We often say that pearls are timeless and they are commonly passed down to become a treasured family heirloom. However, pearls require special care because, first of all, their material is very vulnerable to scratching. Due to the fact that pearls are formed by oysters secreting a combination of aragonite, conchiolin, and water around irritants in their bodies, they are exposed to acids, ammonia, alkaline, extreme humidity. Moreover, pearls contain that organic soft material called nacre so anything that is harmful to organic materials should be avoided. Make sure your pearls last long enough to achieve heirloom status by following these maintenance tips:
- Last on, first off. Pearls should be the final addition to your outfit. Try to avoid applying makeup, hairspray, lotion or perfume once your pearls are on.
- Store strings of pearls flat. While it’s perfectly acceptable for most necklaces to be hung on a jewellery rack, your pearl strands should not be as the silk strands will stretch. Also, fasten the claps and pins to avoid tangles.
- Dedicate a space just for your pearls. Soft pearls are prone to scratches, so store them separately in fabric-lined compartments. The ideal bags are made of silk or cotton.
- Wear your pearls often. Pearls do best in a moist environment, so wearing them frequently keeps them from drying out.
Pro Tip: “Cultured pearls should be strung with a knot between each bead to prevent loss if the strand breaks.”