30 August 2008

Taking Care of Pearl Jewelry

Pearl Jewelry is something a lot of women love and jewelry made from pearls have always held a certain classiness to its composition. With pearl jewelry, you will need to do a few things to keep them looking lovely and clean. Aside from certain maintenance techniques that you need to follow to keep them from losing their luster, there also certain things you need to avoid to help keep them in good condition.Pearls get more beautiful as they age, but it is important that you care for the pearls properly. You should store your pearl jewelry separate from all other jewelry. It is generally a good idea to store your pearls in a cloth bag or pouch.

If you live in a dry climate you may even consider storing a damp linen with your pearl jewelry so they do not dry out. Remember to put on your make-up and perfume before putting on your pearls so you protect them.


General Maintenance and Care

Pearl jewelry comes in many different types but are all made basically of the same composition, so the things you should avoid for one kind of pearl is the same kind of thing that you have to avoid for the others. 

Since a pearl is an organic gemstone, there are certain substances that will take away some of its inherent shine and among the things that can destroy a pearl's natural beauty are alcohol and acids. 

As much as you want to smell nice and look nice while wearing your precious pearl jewelry, you should avoid the contact of your pearls with hairspray and perfume as these substances contain certain chemical components that can strip your pearl jewelry of its lustrous glow. 

Sweat can also affect pearls and as such, when your pearls are touched by any of these substances, you should carefully wipe them off. You can use a damp cloth for this or you can wash your pearls in mild soapy water to get rid of any substances that may eventually affect the beauty of your pearl jewelry.

Keep Pearls Away from These

Another thing you should do with pearl jewelry is to keep it protected from high temperatures and from direct sunlight. Other substances that need to be avoided also include vinegar, detergents and fruit juices. These can also cause a certain amount of deterioration to your jewelry so you should try and keep your pearls away from these.

Storage Is Important too

Maintenance is also a must and storage is part of maintenance. When you store your pearl jewelry, make sure that your pearls are placed in a compartment or box all on its own to avoid being scratched by other pieces of jewelry. As hard as pearls may be, there is still a tendency for them to get scratched and keeping them safe in their own padded compartment will keep them safe.  

Having and wearing pearl jewelry is a source of pride for a lot of pearl owners and knowing how to keep them clean, safe from deterioration and damage are some of the things that every pearl jewelry owner should know.

You should have your pearl jewelry re-strung regularly so you do not run the risk of having the string break and you damage or lose your pearls. Though pearls can retain their luster for a long time, do not hesitate to replace the occasional dull pearl.