How to clean and store pearls without harming them
Pearls are softer than any other gem you own. A few simple habits keep their lustre for a lifetime, and the most important one takes ten seconds.
A pearl is not a stone. It is built up by a living mollusc from thin layers of nacre, a mix of calcium carbonate and protein. That is what gives it that soft glow, and it is also why it needs a gentler routine than your diamonds or your gold. Pearls sit around 2.5 to 4.5 on the hardness scale, which means a grain of sand can scratch them.
Last on, first off
If you remember one rule, make it this one. Put your pearls on after perfume, hairspray, sunscreen and make-up have dried, and take them off before you undress, shower or exercise. Acids and alcohols in cosmetics slowly eat into the nacre and dull the surface. Ten seconds of patience at the mirror is worth years of lustre.
Most pearls that come back to us dull have not been worn too much. They have been sprayed too much.
The everyday clean
- After each wear, wipe the pearls with a soft, slightly damp cloth. A clean glasses cloth works well.
- Let them dry flat in the air before you put them away. Never put pearls away damp.
- If they feel greasy, add a single drop of mild, unscented soap to a bowl of lukewarm water, dip the cloth, wipe, then wipe again with clean water.
- Do not soak pearls. Water can loosen the glue that holds a pearl to its post or peg.
What to avoid
Ultrasonic cleaners, steam cleaners and jewellery dips are all fine for solid gold and diamonds, but they can crack, peel or bleach a pearl. The same goes for toothbrushes and polishing cloths with any kind of compound in them. If a pearl piece needs more than a wipe, bring it to us and we will clean it by hand.
How to store them
Keep pearls in a soft fabric pouch or a lined compartment of their own, away from harder pieces that could scratch them. Avoid sealed plastic bags for long periods: pearls contain a little moisture, and very dry, airless storage can make the nacre brittle over many years. A drawer in a room you actually live in is ideal, not a safe or a bathroom.
Most of all, wear them. Skin contact and gentle movement keep pearls looking their best, which is exactly why we set ours on hoops you can wear every day.
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