 Pearl jewelry always looks beautiful and thanks to modern harvesting methods, is within the financial reach of most consumers. Gone are the days when pearls were only available for the royal family or for the rich; today’s ladies can afford pearls and take on the part of a princess or countess. One danger with pearl jewelry is maintenance, something that must be done occasionally and accomplished correctly. Otherwise, that lovely strand of pearls or pearl drop earrings could be ruined because you did not follow proper cleaning procedures. Quite suddenly, your investment is worthless, but that doesn’t have to be the fate for your jewels. For a primer on pearl maintenance, please read on. Unlike gemstones, pearls cannot withstand the rigors of every day living. You can wash clothes and garden while wearing your gold wedding ring, but you cannot expect your pearls to hold up under similar tough conditions. Dirt, sweat, water, and chemicals can ruin your pearls, discoloring or damaging them beyond repair. Damage From Hair Spray And Perfume When wearing Tahitian, Freshwater, or Akoya pearls, you’ll want to take care to place them on your person once you have finished dressing. This includes after applying hair spray and perfume as the chemicals inside of these products might damage the pearls. Put on your pearl drop earrings, pearl strand necklace, and pearl bracelet only after you have finished dressing and have applied all make up and perfumes. This doesn’t mean that your pearls won’t be exposed to harmful chemicals; rather you have taken care to minimize the chance that no perfumes or hair spray come in contact with your pearls. Time For A Cleaning: Visit A Professional Although there are ways for you to clean your pearls safely – such as with a damp, soft cloth and then air dried – it might be better to visit a jeweler who specializes in pearl jewelry and have them do the cleaning for you. Some people will say that is okay for you to clean your pearls with toothpaste and a soft bristle toothbrush, but why risk ruining your Akoya, Tahitian, and Freshwater pearls because you made a mistake with your cleaning? Restringing Your Pearl Necklace When having your pearl necklace cleaned, you can ask your jeweler whether they need to be restrung as well. Every few years your necklace should be restrung which will ensure that the string won’t break and your pearls damaged or lost. With care, your pearls should last a lifetime giving you many years of enjoyment and good compliments. Wear them with pride, enjoying fine jewels long favored by the rich and the powerful as well as by you.
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