Saturday, May 16, 2009

Who Knew: Caring for your pearls

Dear Christine,

I just purchased my first set of real pearls. Before, I was faking it until I made it. Now, I've made it! I realized that I do not know how to properly care for them. Besides not wearing them in the pool and putting them on after I spray hair spray, are there any other "pearl how to's" that I should know? Storage and cleaning tips would be great!

Thanks!
Melinda


Dear Melinda,

You've come to the right place! I love pearls and wear mine at least 3/7 days of the week. When ogling some black pearls from the South Pacific, oops I meant looking at wedding bands, a jeweler mentioned to me that most girls are pearl girls or diamond girls; I like to think of myself as both, but I really love my pearls. They are perfectly classic and look great with jeans, a business suit, your wedding gown - anything! Anyway, I digress, but back to your questions.

A few tips for keeping your pearls looking their best, always.

  • Always put them on after applying make-up, hair spray and perfume.
  • Rub them with a soft cloth after taking them off (I'm guilty of not always doing this). But this will help them stay shiny and lustrous.
  • If you wear them frequently, a damp cloth will help them keep their lustre over time, as moisture is good for them.
  • If you accidentally wore your pearls on the softball field and they're covered in dirt, clean them with a very mild soap, like Ivory, and warm water. Make sure they are completely dry prior to re-storing them.
  • Never clean pearls with abrasive soaps or cloths as it may cause them to wear away or lose their nacre coating.

Pearl Storage

  • Store separately from other gemstones in your jewelry box. Giving them their own storage area or drawer is ideal.
  • Store them in a soft bag made from chamois or other non-abrasive material. (If you bought a Sham-Wow, that would work perfectly!)
P.S. The pearls I wore for my sorority composite picture were fake, so don't sweat it.

Best,
Christine

*Pearl photo courtesy of elitechoice.
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