Pearls Are Soft: Handle with Care
Pearls are one of the softest materials used in jewelry. Almost all gems are harder than them. For this reason, you should keep in mind that whatever other jewelry material your pearls come in close contact with, they are likely to get scratched.
The pearls on your ring can be easily damaged by a strong bump.
Be careful when wearing your pearls because a strong bump can easily damage them.
Make sure not to drop any of your pearls on hard surfaces.
When you take off your pearl jewelry, place it carefully on something soft.
Safety Rules When Wearing Your Pearls
You should also be careful not to damage your pearls when wearing them.
Only use perfume or hair spray before putting your pearls on, as otherwise these substances may dissolve them.
Household cleaning products can also harm your pearls, so take off your pearl jewelry when doing any housework.
Don’t cook when wearing pearls because some ingredients, especially those with acidic content like lemon juice or vinegar, can damage your pearl jewelry; baking soda can also be harmful.
Avoid exposing your pearls to heat.
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When taking your jewelry off, remove your pearls before any other clothing or accessories.
Do not wear your pearls when taking a shower or swimming as the chlorine often put in water can be damaging to them.
Only wear your pearl necklace when its string is dry; if it is wet, dirt will accumulate on it more easily and will be hard to remove.
Cleaning Your Pearls
It is recommended that you clean your pearls regularly after wearing them to remove any dirt or perspiration accumulated on them.
Simply wipe the pearls with a soft cloth. You can moisten the cloth with water to make the task easier. Avoid soap as some brands contain substances that may not be pearl-friendly.
Make sure you clean your pearls well around the drill holes as this is where dirt tends to accumulate.
You can also use a pearl cleaner, but do not just use any cleaning solution you find at the store: Make sure it is specifically made to clean pearls.
Don’t use ultrasonic cleaners, as they can be damaging to pearls.
Don’t store your pearl jewelry in tightly sealed bags or boxes because dry air will dry your pearls out, and they will become brittle and yellow.
Don’t put your pearls together with other gems as they may scratch your pearl jewelry.
Don’t hang your pearl necklace, as its string can get stretched. Put your pearls in jewelry bags made of soft cloth (e.g., silk).
Storing Pearls
Since pearls are easy to damage, you should store them separately from your other jewelry pieces, which are likely to scratch them. Put your pearls in a separate box or store them in a bag made of a soft material such as velvet or silk.
Do not store your pearls in a plastic bag, especially for a prolonged period as the reduced air supply will cause them to dry out, lose their color and luster, and even start to crack. What’s more, some types of plastic may contain chemicals harmful to pearls.
In general, you should not store your pearls for a long time in a closed space with no air circulation. Take them out regularly and wear them.
Be Careful When Buying Pearls
When shopping for pearls, take a good look at them to make sure you are not buying damaged goods.
If you are looking at a necklace, inspect the pearls’ drill holes for cracks. Ensure that none of the pearls are chipped or scratched.
Can You Repair a Damaged Pearl?
Once the integrity of a pearl’s surface or internal structure has been compromised, there is no way to repair the damage. If your pearl is chipped, the only solution is to buy a new one.
Pearls are very vulnerable, and you should take extra care to protect them from damage.
Can You Prevent Pearls from Turning Yellow?
It is normal for pearls to turn yellow with time. This effect is a result of natural processes changing the composition of the organic substance that makes up your pearls.
It is normal for pearls to turn yellow over time.
It should also be mentioned that this yellowing doesn’t indicate that the pearls are fake as artificial pearls don’t usually change their color.
Avoid Confusion: There Are Naturally Yellow Pearls
It is important to note that a white pearl turned yellow and a naturally yellow pearl are two different things.
Naturally yellow pearls have gotten their color as a result of how they have been cultivated.
When they are sold, these pearls are advertised as yellow pearls or golden pearls and their color is shiny, not dull like the surface of yellowed pearls.
Why Pearls Turn Yellow
The chief reason that pearls turn yellow over time is that they become dry.
If there is no air circulation and moisture where pearls are kept, their organic composition begins to change. As they dry out with time, such pearls lose their color and become yellowish.
And the reason pearls dry out is usually the way people store them – they often pack their pearls in sealed plastic bags, put them in places where the air is hot and dry, and don’t wear them often.
Can You Reverse the Process?
Whether you would be able to whiten pearls that have become yellow depends on how long this process has been going on. If a lot of time has passed, there may not be a way to undo the damage.
That’s why you should not allow your pearls to dry out in the first place, and you should not keep them in airtight containers and places where there is no air circulation.
Is This Really a Problem?
Apart from being an aesthetic nuisance for a lot of people, the yellowing of pearls is accompanied by another issue – loss of durability.
Once the organic material pearls are made of dries out, it becomes brittle, and the pearls themselves may start to crack.
You would be able to see how the pearl’s outer layer begins to come off around the drill holes, and eventually, the pearl may chip. At that point, there is no way to repair the damage.
How to Prevent Pearls from Turning Yellow
When it comes to pearls turning yellow, prevention is the best cure. It’s as simple as that: You just shouldn’t allow your pearls to dry out.
Don’t store them in plastic bags; don’t keep them in closed spaces such as boxes or safes; don’t put them for a long time in places where it’s hot and there’s no air circulation.
Another important advice to remember is that you should wear your pearls regularly to keep them from drying out. The contact with your skin provides them with oils that your pearls absorb, keeping them moisturized.
For example, if you wear your pearl necklace every couple of weeks, that can help its pearls to keep their color.
However, keep in mind that although skin contact is good for pearls, if you wear them during exercise, the excessive sweat can cause them to lose their luster.
After wearing, don’t forget to wipe your pearls dry with a soft cloth before putting them away; this way, you will remove any residual sweat or chemicals left from your perfume or makeup.
Why Your Pearl Necklace Should Be Knotted
Pearl knotting is the practice of tying knots between the pearls strung in a necklace. Next time you are looking at a pearl strand, take a closer look at the cord. Chances are you will see knots between the pearls on it.
Pearl necklaces need to be restrung regularly.
Why Are Pearls Knotted?
One of the reasons to knot pearls is to keep all of them from falling off the strand if it breaks.
If that happens, the knots will ensure that no more than one or two pearls drop on the floor instead of all at once.
Knotting is also done for another reason, which is no less important.
When pearls are strung on a strand, the adjacent ones will touch, and after some time, the rubbing will result in damage to the pearls’ surface. To prevent their shell from chipping, pearls are often separated by knots.
Not all pearls are knotted, though. Fake pearls usually don’t have a surface that is as sensitive to pressure and rubbing, and that’s why they don’t need knots. Often, low-quality pearls are also not knotted.
Restringing Pearls
Keep in mind that pearl necklaces need to be restrung regularly. This is done because the strand wears with time and becomes weak, and you don’t want your pearl necklace to break suddenly.
How often should you have your pearl necklace restrung?
The usual period is every four or five years, but this also depends on how often you wear your necklace.
Check your necklace regularly, and if the strand is worn out and stretched thin, don’t put off restringing.
Look out for these signs:
Dark cord: If the cord has become dark, this means that it is old and most likely weak. You should have it replaced or you will risk breaking it.
Loose pearls: Look at the cord and see if the pearls are tightly held between the knots. If the pearls are loose and there is a distance between each pearl and the knots beside it, this means that the cord has become stretched with time. That’s an indication that the cord has become thin and you should have the necklace restrung.
Buying a Knotted Pearl Necklace
When you are considering buying a pearl necklace, looking at its cord can help you evaluate how well the necklace is made.
First of all, a pearl necklace should have knots for the reasons already mentioned above, especially if the pearls are natural and expensive.
Make sure that the pearls are not loose between the knots. This might be a sign that the cord is not new.
And while we’re at it, get a necklace with a clasp that is durable. A lobster clasp is a good choice and is more reliable than the cheaper spring ring clasp.
Summing Up: Pearl Care Tips
To keep your pearls in good shape, do not expose them to any acids, and keep them away from soap as it can make them less shiny.
Also, apply any perfume and makeup before putting your pearls on as these substances can be harmful to them.
Do not expose your pearls to tap water as it may contain chemicals that can affect their surface; for the same reason, you should not swim in pools when wearing your pearls.
Do not store pearls together with harder pieces of jewelry (such as other gemstones) as pearls are easy to scratch.
