Pearl Care

Pearls are very soft and need special care. They should always be kept separate from other jewelry since they will scratch easily. They are best stored in a soft fabric bag.

Some women’s skin is more acidic than others. If a pearl necklace is regularly worn, as it should be, some of the pearls will constantly be in close contact with the skin on the neck at the shoulder line. The pearls in the necklace will gradually absorb acid from the skin and the acid will slowly eat into the spherical pearl. Over time, the pearl will not only lose its luster but will become barrel-shaped. You can slow this process by wiping the pearls with a soft cloth after wearing them.

Besides being soft, pearls are easily damaged by chemicals like perfume, vinegar, and lemon juice. Pearls should always be put on after applying makeup, hairspray and perfume. Heat can turn pearls brown, dry them out and make them crack. Dry air can also damage pearls.

Because of their delicate nature, special care must be taken when cleaning pearls.

Only use jewelry cleaners labeled as safe for pearls.
Never use an ultrasonic cleaner.
Never steam-clean pearls.
Never use (or expose pearls) to dish or wash detergents, bleaches, powdered cleansers, baking soda, or ammonia-based cleaners (like Windex).
Never use toothbrushes, scouring pads or abrasive materials to clean pearls.
Do not wear pearls when the string is wet. Wet strings stretch and attract dirt, which is hard to remove.
Do not hang pearls to dry.
Avoid wearing pearls with rough fabrics like Shetland wool.
Have your pearls restrung once a year if you wear them often.