Caring for Pearls
Remember That A Pearl Is Not A Rock
Pearls can keep their beautiful lustre for centuries, when the generations of owners remember how these jewels of the sea differ from other precious gem material.
Proper care of pearls is not difficult, and it is merely a matter of remembering that these gems are organic by nature, grown in water from living cells of a living creature. Like the oysters which formed them, they require moisture... but because they usually are worn on a silk string which will deteriorate when wet, the pearls will need to be re-strung more frequently if they are taken for a swim in salt or fresh water. Never expose to chlorinated water. Like their "organic" owners, pearls are prone to damage from pollution and injury. They can't stand the heat, and they should definitely stay out of the kitchen.
What To Do
- STORE PEARLS SEPARATELY from other jewellery, in a cloth bag or jewellery pouch. Storage in slightly damp linen will help prevent pearls from drying out in low-humidity atmospheres including central heating.
- APPLY COSMETICS, PERFUME AND SPRAY PRODUCTS FIRST, before putting pearl jewellery on. (Remember although sun creams and insect repellents are good for you, pearls need to be protected from these protectors.)
- REMOVE SPILLS IMMEDIATELY if pearls come in contact with food acids. Use a soft cloth moistened in fresh water, and then dry pearls with another soft cloth.
- WIPE PEARLS AFTER WEAR, using a soft cloth. Avoid commercial jewellery cleaners unless specified on the label.
- RE-STRING pearls regularly, for the sake of the pearls as well as to avoid a broken string. Makeup, powder and grime will form a soft, gluey paste on the string, attacking both the silk and the pearls.
- REPLACE INDIVIDUAL PEARLS when a competent pearl-stringer recommends it. Pearls which always lie against the neck when worn will absorb acid from the skin and eventually lose lustre as well as their spherical shape.
What To Avoid
- Perspiration.
- Acids in the skin and elsewhere.
- Makeup and skin creams.
- Perfume.
- Hairspray and insect repellent.
- Talcum powder.
- Dust and grit.
- Ultrasonic cleaners.
- Steam cleaning.
- Soap.
- Detergent.
- Scratches from crystalline gemstones and metallic jewelry.
- Dehydration from being wrapped in cotton wool or from exposure to light and heat, especially spotlights in shop-windows and showcases.
- The dinner table with a variety of acidic hazards from vinegar to salad dressing to fruit juice.
- The kitchen with all those acidic ingredients and the high heat used in cooking. Pearls will tolerate temperatures up to 100°C for a short time, but hot fat and stove/oven temperatures often reach a very damaging 180°C! For the same reason, pearls should not be stored near a radiator or a sunny window.