How to Look After Your Pearls

Jewellery Care

The wonderful glow and brilliant luster of pearls always lifts up the face, and as Coco Chanel famously said: 'A woman needs ropes and ropes of pearls'.

How do I look after my pearls?

Keep them in a silk or fabric pouch - The wonderful pearly lustre that gives pearls their glow is created by the oyster (or mussel) in thin layers, one on top of another, over several years. Silk protects these delicate layers from damage.
Never mix pearls and perfume - The scientist in Cassandra will tell you that pearls are calcareous creations of nature with a delicate outer skin that is easily attacked, especially by scent or body creams.
Restring your pearl necklaces every year - Pearls are strung on natural silk thread travelling through the length of the necklace or bracelet. Natural body oils and scent cling to the thread and start to damage the pearl at the drill hole causing discolouration. Regular restringing with new silk thread avoids this happening.
Avoid showers, baths and swimming pools when wearing your pearls - Showers, baths and swimming pools often contain chemical additions that can damage the porous nature of pearls as well as rotting the silk thread. It is best to not to take them to these places.