PEARL JEWELRY CARE Keep Your Pearls Looking Great For Generations Your pearls may be the most elegant and delicate piece of jewelry in your collection.  They should always be worn and stored with the greatest of care too keep them looking great. Here are a few DIY checks to see if they need service, and tips for to keep them looking great.  

• The best and perfect way to take care of pearls is to wear them often and the reason is that the body’s natural oil will keep them lustrous.
• Before wearing your pearls carefully inspect necklaces and bracelets for excess movement between knots and pearls.  Be sure to watch for fraying of the silk on the edges of the pearls.  Strands often wear the most close to the clasp, and fraying and stretching are both signs that it may be time to have them restrung.  Restringing frequency vary from every 6 months for someone very active who wears them daily, to decades for someone who stores them well and wears them occasionally, when unsure, bring them to any Amidon for a free inspection.

• Refresh luster anytime by gently wiping with a soft cloth with oil.
• Keep your pearls dry, remove before swimming or taking shower.

• Always put your pearls on last, after applying cosmetics which include hair spray and perfume. Many of these products will permanently discolor or erode pearls.
• After you wear your pearls, gently wipe them down with a chamois cloth or other soft cloth and store separate from your other jewelry in a pearl folder or cloth bag. Keep pearl separate from other precious metals and gemstones, they may dull or scratch tender surfaces of your pearls.

• If you have excessive dirt or dust on your pearls you may use a soft cloth with olive oil to remove debris.
• Pearl cleaner, as found at a jeweler is safe only for un-dyed natural and cultured pearls.  Pearl cleaner can strip colors of dyed pears or remove coating treatments from enhanced pearls.   If in question avoid cleaners or spot test.  Keep in mind that you may stain the string your pearls are strung on if your pearl cleaner is old or dirty.  After cleaning you will need to allow your pearls to dry before storing.

• Avoid using ultrasound, bleaches, baking soda, toothbrushes, detergents, steam, ammonia or any other abrasive to clean your pearls.
• Avoid hanging your pearls on a hook.  This allows pearls to collide and chip, and may put extra strain on the string or clasp making them wear quickly.  Tightly coiling pearls is equally as harmful.