Pearl Jewelry Care
Among all the jewelry that we possess, pearls are always different, not only in the way they are formed but also how they add the elegance to us when we wear them. The pride that we feel when we own a pearl which comes from being nurtured and formed in the depth of the ocean inside an oyster, is simply mesmerizing. Just owning a masterpiece of nature, like a lustrous pearl, isn't enough. One must take the necessary precautions when it comes to taking care of your pearl jewelry, so that its beauty never fades away!
How to Clean and Care for Pearls
Pearls are considered to be shock-resistant and durable, which they are. Pearls are given a rating between 3.5 to 4.5 on the MOHS hardness scale. Therefore, they do need essential care while cleaning. There are some simple but effective measures that need to be taken to maintain the shining glow that pearls are known for. When it comes to the cleaning of pearls, take the following steps and your pearls will be as gorgeous as they were when you bought them.
- Always use a SOFT lint free cloth or silicon cloth to wipe the pearl surface after every use. Never use a cloth which has harsh or abrasive material, it will harm the pearl surface.
- While cleaning the pearls, you can moisten the cloth with plain water if you want. You can also use solutions which contain mild soaps and are recommended for pearl cleaning. But make sure that the pearls are completely dried naturally before you store them.
- Never use a solution which has harsh detergents, ammonia, alcohol, chlorine or vinegar or citric acid, hairspray, perfumes, etc. These affect the nacre of the pearls and makes them dull.
- Always wear your pearls after you are done with your make up and perfumes. This is because the creams and perfumes might contain harmful chemicals that can harm the pearls. Even perspiration for that matter affects the luster of the pearl. So it's important to clean them every time you take them off.
- If you wear a pearl ring, make sure you take it off before applying your daily hand cream or moisturizer, or even before washing your hands.
- If you swim a lot, make sure to remove the pearls before entering the pool, as chlorine proves to be very harmful for the nacre. Also dipping pearls in water weakens the string in which the pearls are beaded together.
- Don't use ultrasonic cleaners to clean your pearl jewelry.
- If your pearls have lost its shine and luster, consider wiping them gently with a little amount of olive oil with the help of a soft cloth. This helps to revive the shine and luster of the pearls.
- One can also seek the help of a jeweler to clean pearl jewelry.
Unlike diamonds or other gemstones, which can be polished or cut, pearls just need to be taken care of. Here is how to take care of pearls when you store them away:
- Always keep your pearls inside a soft pouch or a soft cloth so that they don't come across harsh surfaces.
- Never store your pearls in the same jewelry boxes where you keep the other jewelry. The pearls might end up getting a scratch when in contact with other gemstones or precious metals with sharp surfaces.
- Don't keep the pearl jewelry in places with high temperature, or under direct sunlight. This can cause the pearl to crack.
- Avoid storing pearls in security boxes, in case you have to, then make sure that you take the jewelry out of it within short intervals. If you want, you can also place a damp cloth (make sure it isn't too wet or else it will cause mildew.) in the security box as pearls require a certain amount of moisture. Also make sure to change the damp cloth at regular intervals.
- Never store the pearl jewelry in a hanging position. This makes the string stretch and makes it weak. Always store them flat.
- Never keep the pearls on a television or radiator. This harms the nacre of the pearl and makes it look dull.
- Always make sure to restring the pearls on a regular basis to make sure that the string is durable and in good shape. Using a silk string or a nylon string would be a good choice as they are strong and will keep the pearls intact.
- You can also string the pearls into individual knots, meaning each pearl has an individual knot. The benefit of this is that it prevents friction among the pearls (which is of course, good for longer durability) and also the pearls won't scatter away if a portion of the string ends up breaking!
