Saturday, February 18, 2012

How to Care for Pearls (Tips 2)

In the second of the series on jewellery care I'd like to share a few quick tips for keeping pearls looking fresh and beautiful.
(Pearl detail on extender chain of Silver and Blue pendant)

* Give pearls a wipe with a soft, dry cloth after each time you wear them. This should get rid of loose grime, sweat, cosmetics etc which can damage them and/or diminish their lustre.


 *If very dirty you can wash pearls in mild soapy water. (This is also good for solid gold jewellery and amber by the way.) In the case of strings of pearls, it's preferable to use a damp cloth rather than soaking them so as to avoid saturating or stretching the stringing material. Do not clean them in ultrasonic or steam cleaners nor use commercial jewellery cleaners unless indicated on the pack.


*As for most jewellery, avoid wearing them in the swimming pool or while handling acids including vinegar and lemon etc.
*Store strings of pearls flat to avoid stretching and keep them separate from other jewellery to avoid scratches.

*Store in a cool place where they wont get dehydrated. Avoid wrapping them in cotton wool or soft tissue as it can dry them out. If the room has central heating, storing them in slightly damp linen can help prevent moisture loss.
*Real pearls should be restrung every so often by a professional jeweller.





No comments:

Post a Comment