Pearl & Jewellery Care Guidelines

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PEARL MAINTENANCE

Freshwater pearls are delicate items which can be harmed unless looked after correctly. The products that harm pearls the most are the perfumes, hair sprays, cosmetics and make up that we wear everyday. Along with other household chemicals, if sprayed near pearls these products can build up on the pearl and damage the surface of the pearl. The surface can become marked, dull, pitted and lose that luminous lustre that defines a freshwater pearls.
- Put your pearls on after you have applied make-up, perfume and hair sprays.
- Don’t spray perfume on the neck area where the pearls will actually sit.
- Avoid touching your pearls when you have just applied hand cream and remove your pearls before applying cleansers or night creams.
- Put them back in their original container, or a velvet lined box. Never store them in plastic.
- Do not put your pearls anywhere hot as the heat will discolour them. Do not steam clean them for the same reason.
- Do not clean pearls using any of the jewellery cleaners made for gold or silver jewellery.
Also do not use the ultrasonic cleaning sets as the vibrations can cause the pearls to rub against each other. - If the pearls are old, and the surface is looking dull, wipe them with a soft damp cloth that has been dipped in a very gentle natural soap solution, and then wipe them with a detergent free damp cloth and allow them to dry FLAT on kitchen paper. Once the pearls have dried, a cloth with a fine smear of olive oil wiped over them will help restore some shine to the surface. By following these basic guidelines, your will ensure that your freshwater pearls stay as beautiful as they are when you receive them.

 

GENERAL JEWELLERY CARE

• Jewellery cleaning is important to restore shine and remove any oils or dirt build-up. But if you’re cleaning a gold necklace or cleaning pearl earrings, you may need to use different tools for different materials
• To maintain your pieces, remember a few things:
• Many jewellery types can be cleaned with warm water and a mild dish soap. Be careful to use a gentle cloth or toothbrush for cleaning, especially with soft gems like pearls that are easy to scratch.
• Avoid any cleaning products not specifically designed for jewellery. Many cleaners can contain harsh chemicals that can damage gems or metals. I advise against silver dips and creams as they tend to strip the silver making them tarnish quicker.
• Put water into a separate bowl to rinse jewellery rather than over the sink, where it’s easy to lose a piece down the drain.
• Dry with soft paper towel and you could also try a silver cloth to keep them looking shiny.
  
  Keep It Out of the Gym and Spa
• As a general rule, if you’re going to swim, sweat, or steam, don’t bring your jewellery with you. It’s common for people to keep a pair of earrings on in the pool or wear a ring in the shower. But moisture, as well as the pool chlorine, (and even the pH of your sweat) can discolour your jewellery. Additionally, it provides plenty of opportunities for your favourite items to get lost or broken. Here are some ideas:
• Keep a small cloth jewellery bag in your gym or swim bag to have a safe place to store your jewellery before workouts.
• Place a ring bowl by the bathroom sink to remind you to remove your jewellery before showering or washing your hands.
• Wear your pieces only during dry activities and dry places—that means taking them off when gardening, cooking, playing sports, and cleaning.
  
  Avoid Contact with Lotion or Perfume
  Precious metals, coloured gems, and pearls are very sensitive to chemicals. That can include reacting to your skin type as well as the products you put on your skin. If you’re applying perfume, make sure to do so before putting on your jewellery rather than spritzing afterwards. The same goes for any sort of makeup setting spray, lotion, or skin refreshing spray. Here are some things to keep in mind:
  
• Be careful, especially of pearls and porous gems—they can have permanent surface damage from some cosmetic chemicals.
• Make sure that your skin is completely dry after applying any sprays before putting jewellery on. 
• If your precious metals become exposed to any chemicals, immediately rinse and wash off any residue with a gentle cloth.
  
  Store Your Jewellery Properly
• When you're not wearing it, keeping your jewellery in careful storage can help prevent damage and discoloration. Storing jewellery together can get them entangled with one another, which risks scratches on soft gems or broken links on necklaces. Here are some storage tips:
• Store out of the light – in a drawer or pouches
• Keep padded boxes or cloth bag pouches that new jewellery comes in.
• Look for jewellery storage that allows you to have some separation between pieces to avoid tangling or damage, such as with padded ring boxes with individual slots.
• Use a padded box or cloth bag to keep pieces separate from other items when traveling. 
• If keeping pieces in long-term storage, seal them in vacuum storage pouches to keep moisture and air out.