A pearl necklace… a pair of pearl earrings… you can’t help but admire their luminous, warm glow. Whether you’ve received your pearl jewelry as a gift or purchased it, you want to be certain to take care of it to ensure that it lasts a lifetime or longer.
Diamonds, which have been compacted deep in the earth and they are the hardest gemstone in the world. Pearls, however, are cultivated in the shells of oysters. They are delicate and need to be treated carefully. Oysters produce the nacre of the pearl, the lustrous coating that gives pearl jewelry its luminosity.
Pearl Jewelry for Special Occasions
Although a simple gold wedding band worn on your hand can withstand daily activities, your pearl ring won’t. The same holds true for a pearl necklace and pearl earrings. Don’t wear your pearl jewelry when you work in the yard or go to the gym. The dirt and perspiration will shorten the life of your pearls.
Even though the pearls come from the ocean, it doesn’t mean that your pearl jewelry should be worn if you swim in the ocean. And your pearls don’t have to be locked away and worn on only special occasions, but you will want to make sure that they aren’t damaged by the elements.
Chemicals Can Be Harmful to Pearl Jewelry
Chemicals such as cleaning products as well as hairsprays, perfumes, and lotions are harmful to pearl jewelry. The chemicals contained in such products can shorten the lifespan and beauty of your pearls. This doesn’t mean you should not use these products if you’re going to wear your pearl jewelry. However, as a safety precaution, when you’re getting ready to go out, put your pearl jewelry on last. When you return home, take your pearls off and wipe them gently with a very soft cloth before putting them away to remove any lotion or perfume that may have gotten on them. These precautions will help you limit your pearl jewelry’s exposure to chemicals and prolong the life of your jewelry.
Cleaning, Care and Re-stringing Pearl Jewelry
With regular wearing pearl jewelry becomes dirty over time. However, you can gently clean your pearl jewelry yourself with a clean, slightly damp soft cloth. It’s important that you don’t use any type of scrubbing pad or tool, like a sponge or a toothbrush, and don’t use soap or detergent. After cleaning, lay your pearl jewelry on a clean, soft cloth to dry.
You can also have your pearl jewelry professionally cleaned. Many jewelers specializing in pearl jewelry offer cleaning services for ocean and freshwater pearls of every color – including white, pink, and black pearls.
If you have pearl necklace and you wear it regularly, it’s advisable to replace the silk string every two or three years. Re-stringing your pearl necklace helps ensure that it won’t break and that you won’t lose one or more of the pearls.
With gentle care and use and cleaning, you’ll be able to enjoy your pearl jewelry for years to come.
