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 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 damage pearls.  Apply these products and let them dry completely before putting on your pearls.  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 detergent solution (some people use Ivory Flakes) 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 a couple of 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 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.

Sometimes it is a good idea to clean your pearls right before re-stringing them. This is usually done while they are still on the old stringing material, but not always. 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!  I 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 which is lined with a clean soft cloth. I carefully clean them by hand without rubbing the pearls together. Then they are rinsed several times in bowls of clean water and patted dry with a soft cloth. The pearls are then carefully cut off the old stringing material, without scratching the pearls, and allowed to dry for a day or two in order to make sure all water evaporates out of the drill holes before re-stringing.

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.  If the set has a sterling silver clasp, beads or other components, they could first be stored inside a clear plastic zip bag to prevent tarnish.  I supply these with all items for your convenience.  Silver may tarnish, even if you live in a dry climate, from contact with environmental pollutants.  A plastic zip bag will help protect the silver.  However, note that pearls are organic material and need to breathe.  If you store pearls in plastic, they should be removed and worn frequently.  Oils from your body can actually help condition your pearls and keep them lustrous. If you have very high quality pearls, do not store them in plastic.  If you live in a humid climate, save the small bags of silicone that come inside items you buy such as shoes.  Place them in your jewelry box, but not in the pouch or box with the pearls, to keep the environment dry and replace them as you get more.  If your components do 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. 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.  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 don not like heat.  Do not blow dry your hair while wearing your pearls.

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

© 2008 Sue Runyon

Sue Runyon