Pearls are delicate and are in need of special care. To make sure your pearls retain their lustre for years to come, follow these guidelines on caring for pearls.
Protecting Your Pearls
On the Mohs hardness scale, pearls come in at 2.5. To compare, diamonds are ranked 10. This means that pearls are soft and easily scratched, so you need to take care to protect them.
When you are not wearing your pearls, it’s important to store them carefully. Keep them separate from other jewellery to avoid nicks and scratches from harder materials like gold or other gemstones.
Avoid storing pearls in plastic bags or containers - it’s best to keep them wrapped in a soft cloth in a place they can breathe as pearls are porous and need moisture. Dehydration can make your pearls fragile, even causing cracks.
If you’ve heard it said that pearls like to be worn, it’s because the natural oils in your skin can help to keep them radiant, so don’t leave your pearls stored away for too long! Give your pearls the care they deserve.
Wearing Your Pearls
While enjoying your pearls is important, so too is remembering that they are easily damaged by acids and chemicals, such as perfume, hair spray and make up. The general rule with pearls is that they should be the last thing you put on before you leave the house, and are the first thing you take off when you return. This is to help prevent spritzing your perfume or other products on your pearls and accidentally damaging them.
Don't wear your pearls while in the shower or swimming, and when you take them off give them a gentle wipe with a damp cloth to remove any perspiration or oils.
Cleaning Your Pearls
Every now and then, you will need to give your pearls a more thorough clean. Use mild soaps, warm water and a soft cloth. Don’t immerse pearls in water, use a dab technique.
After you have washed your pearls and rinsed them in clean water, wrap them in a cotton towel to dry. Never use cleaning solutions intended for silver or other jewellery, nor detergents or ammonia-based cleaners to wash your pearls.
If you have any doubts or questions about caring for your pearls, come and visit us in store - you can add to your collection while you’re here!