Caring For Your Pearls

Whether your pearls are cultured or natural, they deserve the same care as they are precious stones and should be treated as such. However, you do need to remember that pearls are much softer than gems and thus require an even gentler touch.

Firstly, you should never expose your pearls to acidic-alkaline substances or high temperatures. A high acid content can completely dissolve the pearl so you also need to make sure that you avoid any direct contact with chemicals such as hair spray, lotions, perfumes, oil or salt.

On the other hand, pearls need natural oils to maintain their luster, which is why they should be worn periodically, to avoid them drying out and becoming dull. Additionally, pearls should be cleaned with neutral cleaners and then rinsed thoroughly with water. Never bathe while wearing your pearls because the content of many shampoos and soaps will adversely affect your pearls. Use a soft cloth to dry your pearls after cleaning.

When you remove your pearls, you should clean them with a mild soap to remove any traces of perspiration, dirt and perfume or hair spray that may have ended up on your pearls.

Remember that pearls are delicate and need to be treated as such. Therefore, never throw them in your purse or a jewelry box without wrapping them in tissue paper or a soft cloth. Rough treatment will result in scratched pearls that will eventually lose their luster.

When having your pearls strung, have the jeweler place a knot between each pearl to avoid the pearls scratching each other. This also reduces the risk of loss because if the string breaks, only one or two pearls may roll away which are easier to locate than a whole string.