10 Golden Rules Of Looking After Pearl Jewellery:
The trend of wearing pearls has become especially popular in the past few seasons. And so, jewellery with this sea mineral has appeared in the jewellery boxes of even those who earlier thought of it as old fashioned.
Regardless of the type of jewellery, pearls require a certain type of care that, if not observed, can lead to the dulling of the pearl’s surface, or the outer layer of pearl to flake off or crack. So how do you preserve a pearl’s beauty? Here are a few useful tips:
1. Keep pearl jewellery in a box or a velvet pouch. Make sure to keep stable temperature and moisture levels as well as cleanliness.
2. Place the pearls in the bag in such a way so that the beads don’t hit against each other.
3. Protect pearls from coming into contact with deodrant, eau de toilette or cream. Start off by applying them and only after put on your jewellery.
4. Vinegar destroys pearls, therefore if you get some salad dressing on a ring for instance, wash it off as soon as possible.
5. Don’t wear pearls alongside other jewellery – they can easily scratch on metal or on the edge of another stone.
6. It is recommened that you should periodically wash items made of pearl, however you should never use cleaning liquid, even that made especially for jewellery. Instead of this wash your pearls with warm water, using a soft sponge. You could also use a very low concentrated soap.
7. In the case of minor damage to the surface of the pearl, it can be returned to its former beauty, through polishing. Although its better to let a professional do this, you yourself can remove small scratches with the aid of a soft jewellery cloth. However, it is worth taking into consideration that you are removing a layer of nacre which, if thin, can cause even greater damage to the jewellery.
8. The thread of pearl necklaces should be changed regularly, especially if you wear a piece of jewellery often. Between each pearl should be a diving knot, which prevents them from rubbing against one another, something which can damage the outer layer of pearl. There’s also the added benefit that if the thread breaks the pearls won’t fly off in all directions.
10. Wear your jewellery often – pearls love attention!
WORDS
Katerina Perez is a jewellery insider, journalist and brand consultant with more than 15 years’ experience in the jewellery sector. Paris-based, Katerina has worked as a freelance journalist and content editor since 2011, writing articles for international publications. To share her jewellery knowledge and expertise, Katerina founded this website and launched her @katerina_perez Instagram in 2013.
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