Pearl Care 101
As an organic gem, pearls require special care to ensure a long life. Avoid contact with chemicals found in household cleaners, perfumes, cosmetics, and hair care products of all kinds.
Remember: your pearls are last to put on, and first to take off.
- Always use safe-for-pearls jewelry cleaner, never an ultrasonic cleaner, steam-cleaner, or tarnish remover.
- Always gently wipe your pearls with a soft cloth moistened with water, never with toothbrushes, scouring pads or any type of abrasive material.
- Always pay attention to the types of fabric you wear. Shetland wool and other coarse fabrics can damage pearls.
- Always store your pearls in a soft cloth or pouch, never in plastic bags, dry rooms, or safe deposit boxes for extended periods of time. Pearls need small amounts of moisture, like from your skin, to maintain their lustre.
- Always remove your pearls before reapplying hairspray or spraying perfume, and never expose your pearls to dish or laundry detergents, bleaches, powdered cleansers, baking soda or any ammonia based cleaner like Windex, or to a direct sources of heat like a fireplace mantle, the top of electronics, or stove.
- Always remember that you are wearing a gift from the sea. The more you care for your pearls, the longer they will glow.