The culturing of pearls has come so far in the past few decades.  Once only available to the wealthiest individuals, pearls are now affordable as everyday wear for anyone.  They look especially fresh and modern with a simple solid color blouse, t-shirt or dress.  A single freshwater pearl that one can buy for pennies today can be finer than those found on crown jewels from centuries past.

Pearls, whether natural or cultured, freshwater or saltwater, are delicate.  They are organic material that is softer and more easily damaged than other jewelry components.  They require a small amount of special care which is more than made up for by the joy of wearing them.  Real pearls are light weight, smooth, lustrous and flattering to all. They softly reflect colors and therefore blend beautifully with whatever you are wearing. They gently warm to the temperature of your body as you wear them.  Best of all, pearls are now so affordable and come in so many colors, styles, shapes and mix well with all kinds of gemstone beads, that you can enjoy owning and wearing your own special collection of pearl pieces.

Personal care products like hair spray and perfume can seriously damage pearls.  Apply these products and let them dry completely before putting on your pearls.  A build up of body oil and perspiration can dull the luster of pearls.  It is wise to occasionally wipe them down gently with a soft cloth.  It is also possible to wash them down with a cloth soaked in very mild, diluted, unscented and uncolored soap solution (some people use Ivory Flakes, but I use Dr. Bronner's liquid baby soap) followed by wiping them down with a damp cloth and pure water.  Do this gently so as not to stretch the stringing material.  Leave them out for several days to dry thoroughly so that any water that soaked into the holes in the pearls has a chance to evaporate before you store them.

Pearls should be stored in such a way that they do not come in contact with other jewelry items to avoid scratches.  When buying from me, you will receive either a free cotton lined silver foil box or sheer organza jewelry pouch to protect your beautiful pearls. Pearls are organic material and need to breathe. Oils from your body can actually help condition your pearls and keep them lustrous. If your components tarnish over time, buff them very gently with a soft cloth and avoid pulling on the stringing material. Some special jewelry polishing cloths are coated with an abrasive substance. Avoid using these on your pearls. Do not store your pearls where they will be in direct sunlight. Do not store your pearls hanging on a jewelry rack. Do not store pearls in a safe deposit box except for short periods of time or they will yellow. Be sure and take your pearls out and wear them occasionally or they can become dry or damaged from being stored. 

Do not wear your pearl or other beaded jewelry to sleep in.  Do not wear pearl or other beaded jewelry in the shower, pool, hot tub or bath or while playing sports.  Avoid contact with any chlorinated water.  Do not wear pearl rings and bracelets when washing dishes, gardening, bathing pets or other chores that will get them wet or dirty.  Pearls do not like heat.  Do not blow dry your hair while wearing your pearls.

Pearl strands tend to break near the clasp where the weight of the strand puts the most stress (especially if you tend to touch or pull on your pearls) and where the clasp can cut into the stringing material. You should check the stringing material at the clasp occasionally to see if it looks weakened. When I string pearls, I put tiny coils of french wire over the stringing material at the clasp to protect the strand from wear at the most volunerable point.

Pearls are often strung on silk since silk is gentle on the delicate pearl.  Silk is extremely strong, but since it is a natural fiber, it can stretch and break down over time.  Expensive pearls that are worn frequently should be restrung once a year.  Others should be restrung as needed--every three years is often suggested.  However, nice pearls are usually knotted between each pearl so that they hang beautifully, do not rub against each other, and if the strand is broken, you will not loose more than a pearl or two.  Pearls can also be knotted between "sets" if mixed with other beads or if they are small pearls.  If stringing pearls with other beads, I often use a very strong bead cord since sharp edges at the drill holes of some gemstone or metal beads can saw through silk over time.  The use of bead cord instead of silk on freshwater pearls is standard practice these days.  I do offer professional, classic pearl stringing services and pearl cleaning services as well as custom design.

Usually it is a good idea to thoroughly clean your pearls right before re-stringing them. This is something that can be done yourself or you can hire a professional to do this for you. I often do this for customers. A thorough cleaning is usually done while they are still on the old stringing material. You can usually tell if they need to be cleaned by looking at the stringing material and seeing if it looks dirty. There's really no magic or skill involved in cleaning the pearls except for careful handling and keeping them far away from the drain! Use a gentle natural liquid soap (not a detergent) with no dyes or perfumes in it and a lot of clean, room temperature water in a bowl away from the sink. Carefully clean them by hand without rubbing the pearls together using a very soft cloth (I use a baby washcloth). Rinse several times in bowls of clean water and pat dry with a soft cloth. Put the cleaned strand on a cloth for several days to allow them to dry all the way through the drill holes. If sending them to a professional stringer after cleaning them you should leave them on the old stringing material.

With a little care, your pearls will look beautiful for generations to come.  

© 2011 Sue Runyon

Sue Runyon