Pearls are a jewelry classic, and every woman – young, old, and everyone in-between – should have at least one pearl item in her jewelry box. Pearls are little treasures of nature, and when farmed correctly, they are sustainable, ethical, and harvesting them supports families and communities! 

Because pearls are naturally soft, they do require a bit of extra TLC. Here are a few tips to help you maintain your pearls in perfect luster and complete security.

Pearls pick up the natural oils of your body and the substances they are exposed to. So every time you take off your pearls, before you put them away, gently wipe them off with a clean, dry, microfiber cloth. This will ensure they return to storage clean, and prevent build-up of staining oils and substances over time. Remember – pearl nacre is very soft, so whatever you do, do not rub them with a cloth that has been infused with an abrasive, like a Sunshine Cloth.  A dirty cloth or cloth that has been embedded with abrasives to remove tarnish will scratch your beautiful pearls.

So – does this mean you shouldn’t wear your pearls often? Actually, the opposite is true! Wearing your pearls regularly keeps them hydrated, which is good for them. So wear them as often as you wish, and just remember to give them a gentle inspection and cleaning each time before you put them away. Here’s another tip to make sure your daily pearl habit (yes, that’s a thing) keeps your pearls in tip-top shape: Pearls should be the last thing you put on before you walk out the door. Why? Because when you’re getting dressed, you’re likely to  be using lotions, makeup, and hair spray. Go ahead and do the whole beauty routine – just put your  pearls on last!

If your pearls have become stained, gently clean them with a solution of lukewarm water and mild dish soap. Just dip your microfiber cloth in the solution, then wipe the pearls. Never submerge a pearl necklace in water, as good pearls are typically strung on fine silk, and submerging the strand can weaken it. Or, if you are worried about damaging your pearls, just bring them to us! We’ll clean them up for you, and we’ll check the strength of the setting or strand while we’re at it.

Always store your pearls strands flat. This will keep the strand from stretching and becoming weaker over time.  To prevent your pearls from becoming scratched by other jewelry, store them in velvet bags or in a dedicated space that keeps them from rubbing up against items like faceted gemstones and metals.

Finally, please bring your pearls in once each year for inspection and restringing.  While wearing your pearls regularly keeps the pearls happily hydrated, it also exposes strands and settings to wear-and-tear. So let us do our job of inspecting, freshening, and securing your pearls for you, so you can continue to enjoy them every day.