Pearls are very beautiful gemstones. They can be both worn with an elegant outfit and dressed down to look casual. Pearls can also be heirloom jewelry that can be handed down through the generations. No matter if they are heirloom gems or something modern, you want to make sure that you care for and clean your pearls properly so that they will stay beautiful forever.
Care Tips
You can do some very simple things to care for your pearls and keep them looking beautiful.
Store Separately
The surface of your pearls is relatively soft and can be scratched very easily. You can help keep that from happening by storing your pearl jewelry on its own. They can be placed in a separate space in your jewelry box, where nothing else can touch them. You could also get a soft cloth bag to store the pearls in.
Wear Often
Pearls really like to be worn. If they aren't worn often, they can dehydrate. Dehydrated pearls will turn brittle and dull. The natural oils in your skin can help keep them hydrated. If you need to store them somewhere hot and dry, try to keep a damp cloth in with them. You should also not store your pearls in an airtight container so that they don't get dehydrated.
Restring Regularly
Pearls are generally strung on a silk thread. That thread can stretch and wear out. How often you restring them depends on how often you wear your pearls. If you wear them at least weekly, you should get them restrung yearly. Otherwise, get it done every two or three years. When they get restrung, make sure that the jeweler knots the string in between each pearl to keep them in place.
Cleaning Tips
Pearls can get dirty, become discolored, or start to lose their luster. With some simple tips, you can clean them and bring them back to their former beauty.
Avoid Vinegar
Pearls are made out of calcium carbonate. That is what makes them very vulnerable to vinegar. Vinegar is acidic, and will actually eat into the outer layers of your pearls. You may not be able to bring them back from that kind of damage.
Wipe Down
At the end of the day, when you take off your pearls, you want to wipe them down with a nice, soft cloth. While you do want to wear them regularly so they don't dehydrate, you don't want to let your skin oils, sweat, hairspray, or anything else sit on your pearls for a long time. Just make sure that the cloth has nothing on it that might scratch your pearls and is clean.
Wash Gently
If your pearls are dirty, you can wash them. Get a clean bowl and fill it with some warm water and a very gentle dishwashing detergent. You could also use a laundry detergent designed for delicates. You can simply dip your pearls in the bowl for a few seconds and then use a clean, soft cloth to gently rub the jewelry. You could use a damp cloth instead of dipping your pearls if you'd rather.
Pearls are beautiful, as long as they are treated correctly. Call us at Marla's Gem Creations
if you need help with pearls you already own or if you want a special piece of jewelry made with pearls. We can talk to you about what your vision is, and help turn that vision into reality so that you have the perfect piece of pearl jewelry you want. We can turn your vision into a piece of pearl jewelry that you can hand down.
