How To Care For Pearls

Pearls have been revered and treasured for their beauty for centuries across the globe. Though they are an organic material, they are ranked highly among the finest gemstones.  Because they are organic, they require specific care that will protect them for a very long time. They can be harmed by contact with many chemicals found in household cleaners, perfumes, cosmetics and hair care products of all kinds.

Always remember that your Pearls should be the last thing you put on when dressing and the first thing you take off when you get home.

• Always store your Pearls wrapped in a soft cloth or pouch and protected from all abrasive objects.
• Always wipe your Pearls with a soft cloth moistened with water.
• If spills or drips get on your pearls (“oops” happens…), give them a good soak in lukewarm water with gentle natural soap (not detergent). Rinse well and allow to dry wrapped in a cotton cloth, then wear them to return some oils from your skin to the pearls. Remember, water doesn’t hurt pearls, they grew up in it! 
• Always remove your Pearls if you apply hair spray, or put on perfume with a sprayer: both can damage Pearls.
• Always remove Pearls before exercising or otherwise getting sweaty. (It’s not the water or the salt, but the pH of sweat is not good for them.)
• Always be aware of the type of fabrics you wear. Fabrics like Shetland wool can act as an abrasive with Pearls.
• Always remember that you are wearing a gift from the sea and the better you take care of them the longer they will maintain their warm glowing luster.

To Prevent your pearls from becoming damaged, avoid the following:

• Avoid using toothbrushes, scouring pads or any type of abrasive material to clean your Pearls. Never use any “magic eraser” or other commercial cleaning pad, even those ‘safe for non-stick’ or otherwise presented as “gentle”.
• Do not clean your pearls with anything containing chlorine bleach, vinegar or ammonia (including Windex). All will harm pearls. Avoid anything other that water and soap (not detergent).
• Prevent exposing your Pearls to dish or laundry detergents, bleaches, powdered cleansers, or baking soda.
• Do not use any type of ultrasonic cleaner.
• Steam cleaning your Pearls is not recommended.
• Avoid tarnish remover or any type of jewelry cleaner advertised on TV as a miracle cleaner.
• Please do not store your pearls in any type of plastic bag. Plastic can emit a chemical that will cause the surface of the Pearl to deteriorate.
• Avoid leaving your pearls around a direct source of heat such as a fireplace mantle, on top of a television set, or stove.
• It is best not to store your Pearls in a very dry room or in a safe deposit box for a long time. Your Pearls need a little moisture like your skin so that they will not dry out!

And last but not least: WEAR YOUR PEARLS. They like the natural oils from your skin and have a tendency to dry out when being stored away.

Thanks for reading,

JBriggs & Co.

For more information check out these helpful links:

http://www.pearls.com/pages/care-of-pearls

https://www.jewelersmutual.com/the-jewelry-box/how-to-clean-pearls-without-ruining-them