How to Care for Your Pearls

Pearls truly can be a girl's best friend and to keep the relationship strong they also need some TLC. Pearls are a organic gem and need more care than other jewellery. It is known for a long time that "your pearls should be the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off". They are very precious after all...

Storing Your Pearls

Always store your Pearls in a soft cloth or pouch, protected from other abrasive jewellery.

Never store your pearls in any type of plastic bag. Plastic can emit a chemical that will cause the surface of the Pearl to deteriorate.

Never leave your Pearls in a direct source of heat, eg a fireplace mantle, on top of a television set, or near a hot stove, nor leave them lying in direct sun for hours.

Do not leave Pearls in a box for long periods of time, or they will dry out and the lustre may be affected

Your Pearls need a little moisture like your skin, so wear them often.

Cleaning Your Pearls

As a Cultured Pearl Expert, Erna follows the CPAA's advice on cleaning your Pearls at home:

Clean and inspect your Pearls once every month to keep your Pearls' brilliant lustre, as well as for good housekeeping.

Use only jewellery cleaners that are labeled as ‘Safe for Pearls’.

Never use toothbrushes, or anyother abrasive material to clean your Pearls.

Do not expose your Pearls to dish- or laundry detergents, bleaches, powdered cleansers, baking soda or cleaners which contain ammonia.

Never clean Pearls in ultrasonic cleaners.

Do not use tarnish remover on any Pearls that are slightly discoloured

Restringing When Necessary

Inspect your Pearl jewellery from time to time and keep a close eye on how much your Pearls individually move between the knotted thread on either side of the Pearl. Unfortunately the thread does stretch over time, and it can snap at the most inconvenient time and place, running the risk of loosing some of the Pearls.

Another reason to consider restringing is when the knots get dirty or discoloured and affects the aestheticity of the strand. Oftentimes products like suntan lotions discolour not only the thread but can leave permanent marks on some pearls.

Therefore a re-stringing trip will keep them in good shape and you can wear them with confidence..