Pearls are very soft and need special care. They never should be tossed on top of or next to other gems in a jewelry box. Store them in a jewelry pouch.
Some women’s skin is more acidic than others. If a pearl necklace is regularly worn, as it should be, some of the pearls will constantly be in close contact with the woman’s skin on her neck at the shoulder line. Pearl pendant do not always have such constant contact with a woman’s skin. The pearls in the necklace will gradually absorb acid from the skin and the acid will slowly eat into the spherical pearl. Over time, the pearl will not only lose its luster but will become barrel-shaped. You can slow this process by wiping the pearls with a soft cloth after wearing them.
Except being soft, pearls are easily damaged by chemicals like perfume, vinegar, and lemon juice. Heat can turn pearls brown, dry them out and make them crack. Dry air can also damage pearls. Most safe deposit vaults have very dry air and can damage pearls.
When taking off a pearl ring, grasp the shank, or metal part, rather than the pearl. This will prevent the pearl from loosening and coming into contact with skin oils on your hand, because of their delicate nature, special care must be taken when cleaning.
The best way to clean pearls is to soak them in warm water and a mild detergent such as Ivory soap. The best way to distinguish between a natural or cultured pearl and an imitation pearl without sending them to a GIA Lab for X-ray is to use the “tooth test”. Rub a pearl on the edge of your teeth. If it feels smooth , the pearl is probably imitation. If the pearl feels rough or gritty, it is probably natural or cultured.
Keep hairspray, cosmetics etc. away from pearl jewelry. A good rule is to put your pearls on last and take them off first. Whenever you wear your necklace, check to see if the silk the pearls are strung on is stretching and if the knots between the pearls are becoming dirty. If either of these things happens, it’s time to restring.
It will have a jewelry professional verify that the pearls on your jewelry are securely mounted or that the string is still good in about every six months.
