After the blog post dedicated to cleaning silver jewellery, let's now talk about how to care for pearls. This is a question my customers often ask me, and it clashes with many bad habits and practices. So, I'll try to give you some small tips to ensure your jewellery retains its beauty over time.

As you well know, for my creations, I have decided to use only authentic pearls, i.e., those produced by mollusks. Authentic pearls are obviously more delicate than imitation pearls, which are made of glass or plastic/resin.

Being an organic product, authentic pearls require some extra care to prevent them from dulling or yellowing over time.

What damages pearls?

Besides seawater and chlorine, it's essential to avoid contact with chemical substances such as:

hairsprays
makeup and cosmetic products
perfumes
ammonia
acidic pH products, such as lemon and vinegar

When you go to the beautician or hairdresser, especially when they need to apply a color with an ammonia base, be sure to remove necklaces, earrings, rings, and bracelets. Similarly, wear your jewellery only after you have finished your makeup. With this small precaution, you will extend the life of your pearls, preventing them from yellowing.

Can you shower or swim in the sea with pearls?

Avoid swimming in the sea or pool while wearing pearls. The salt in seawater has a corrosive effect on your jewellery. Not to mention, when you go to the beach, you could risk scratching the pearls with grains of sand. Another fierce enemy of pearls is chlorinated pool water.

Sport with pearls: yes or no?

No. The acidic substances present in skin secretions, such as very acidic sweat, are dangerous for your pearls. Do not wear jewellery even during gardening or household cleaning, also because involuntary contact with detergents could damage them.

How to clean pearls before storing them?

After you have worn them and before putting them back in the jewellery box, be sure to gently rub the pearls with a soft, damp cloth to remove skin sebum and any traces of makeup or perfume. Do not use commercially available products, which usually contain potentially acidic substances.

Alternatively, you can care for and polish them with a soft chamois cloth, or even better with a deerskin leather, and a drop of olive oil, which moisturizes them and makes them shine.

For cleaning clasps or silver components, I refer you to another blog article on silver jewellery care.

Where to store pearls?

First of all, let's remember that pearls are organic products, generated by a living organism and composed of water and proteins. If these are lacking, small cracks form on the mother-of-pearl, which in more serious cases can even cause them to fragment.

Originating from a liquid habitat, pearls must be stored in an environment that recreates the original humidity conditions as much as possible. Keep them at a constant temperature, avoiding temperature fluctuations and exposure to heat sources.

When you're not wearing your jewellery, you can place a wet cotton ball next to the pearls in the case where you store them or in a safe. Avoid storing them in plastic bags or airtight containers because, being "alive," pearls need to "breathe." They can, for example, be stored in a separate casket, in a soft fabric, velvet, or natural leather pouch, or in a separate compartment of your jewellery box.

Always keep your pearls separate from hard elements that could scratch them, such as pin tips, rings, diamonds, or other items.

Treat your pearls with care and wear them whenever you can, without waiting for a wedding, graduation, or special occasion. This way, they will get air, light, and be able to "breathe." For me, every occasion is a good one!

And remember that, fortunately, things can be fixed, so, even with a few small precautions, enjoy your jewellery carefree.

An expression of elegance and refinement, I adore them, so much so that I have created an entire collection dedicated solely to them.

For any questions or curiosities, feel free to leave me a comment below, I will be happy to answer you!