Rules for caring for products made from natural pearls

Over time, any jewelry becomes dull, loses its luster, and becomes covered with microscopic scratches. Organic pearls are no exception. The main reason for the aging of the mineral is dehydration of conchiolin molecules, which react negatively to bright light, dryness, heat and cold. Negatively affects stone and contact with metals. Pearls become dark, cloudy, and lose their mysterious glow. How to restore shine to pearls at home?

Daily care

The harvesting of natural pearls was banned in 1952, and since then the cultured material has been used in jewelry.

How to care for cultured pearls every day so that they retain their original appearance?

• Apply the thread after doing your makeup and styling your hair. The mineral is vulnerable to decorative cosmetics, varnish, and eau de toilette. Aerosol particles easily stick to the surface of the stone, depriving it of its shine.
• Keep artificial Mallorca pearls in separate suede (velor, fleece) bags so that harder items do not scratch them.
• When starting homework, remove rings and bracelets.
• You should not expose the gem to strong acids - it is not without reason that legend says that Cleopatra dissolved a pearl earring in vinegar.

Knowing how to care for pearls at home, you will get rid of the need to constantly put them in order.

Where and how should pearls be stored?

To properly store pearls, it is not enough to put them in a jewelry box. Sometimes you have to spend a lot of time searching for the optimal place for capricious products:

1. The temperature should be average. In the cold the stones will fade and in the heat they will crack.
2. Items with elements of organic origin should be stored separately from other decorations. In this case, the lock should be slightly to the side, otherwise it may scratch the surface of the stones.
3. It is better not to use bags made of linen; it creates too much friction. It is better to use a spacious box, upholstered in corduroy or suede.
4. Pearls cannot be stored in sealed containers; lack of air causes them to become dull and crumble. Even during transportation, the product should not be placed in polyethylene.
5. If the humidity in the room is low, you need to place a glass of water next to the box, but it is much more effective to adjust the indicator. At home, these can be not only household appliances, but also homemade devices.

It is strictly forbidden to keep jewelry in a smoker's room. Smoke can penetrate even into the box, ruining the appearance of the stones.

Cleaning

The question of how to clean pearls requires a balanced approach.

It is not advisable to experiment with different means or use exotic methods, such as boiling in fig juice. The way pearls were cleaned during the time of the famous Al-Biruni is hardly suitable for modern jewelry. There are more effective ways to restore pearls using the following means:

• fine salt;
• mild shampoo;
• starch;
• olive oil.

Caring for pearls does not require cleaning items with washing powder, soda, abrasive sponges and hard brushes. It is not recommended to clean stones in ultrasonic baths. Some people try to wipe off the yellowish discoloration with hydrogen peroxide, ammonia, or chlorine solution. It will not be possible to restore pearls using these methods, but they can easily be damaged. We offer several proven methods for safe cleaning:

1. Dilute a coffee spoon of baby shampoo in a liter of water. Place the products there for 10 minutes. Remove, rinse in a container with clean water, and wipe with a soft cloth.
2. You can clean pearl beads with jewelry paste. We put a little on a napkin and polish the product until it shines. This method cannot be used often - the active substance in the paste “eats” the layers of mother-of-pearl.
3. The problem of how to restore the shine of pearls is successfully solved by potato starch. You need to pour starch onto a piece of suede (velvet, velor), wrap the jewelry in it and rub until the plaque disappears. No need to rinse.
4. How to clean pearls at home with olive oil? Take a cotton pad, drop a little oil on it and wipe each pearl.
5. Another simple way to clean pearls at home is to use fine “Extra” salt. Pour a pinch into a linen napkin, put beads and rings there, and tie it. Rinse the bundle in warm water until the salt dissolves. We wash the gems with clean water.

The rules for caring for natural and artificial pearls are almost the same, since the mother-of-pearl layers of the stones are similar in composition.

What and how to clean pearls

As jewelry is worn, the pearls and settings become dirty. There are simple ways to clean your jewelry.

General principles

They are used regardless of the type of pearl, frame material, degree of contamination:

• use a soft cloth or sponge;
• wash with filtered warm water (chlorinated or hot water will destroy the stones);
• folk remedies such as ammonia, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and other aggressive and abrasive compounds are excluded;
• dry at room temperature.

Washed jewelry is returned to the box after drying.

Methods and means of cleaning

You can clean pearls at home using manual means:

1. Baby soap or mild shampoo. Jewelry such as rings or earrings is dipped into the solution for a quarter of an hour, then wiped dry. Beads or bracelets are washed differently. Each pearl is wiped with a damp cotton swab. Soap residues are removed with a clean damp cloth. Dry on a soft cloth.
2. Potato starch. It is used in problematic cases when other methods have proven useless. The beads are wiped with a velvet cloth on which starch is poured. Excess moisture is removed from the dirt.
3. Special paste. Apply to soft fabric. Each bead is wiped and polished with a dry lint-free cloth.

The last method is the easiest and most reliable, but it is only applicable. The paste is not sold everywhere, and the method is not suitable for frequent use. The pearls will shine again, but the cleaning components of the paste will shorten their “life.”

Bringing back the shine

Jewelry with pearl inserts fades. Shine and shine are restored in several ways:

1. Olive oil. It is highly refined olive oil that is safe. A few drops are applied to a cotton swab, which is used to rub the pearls. Remaining oil is removed with a paper napkin.
2. Sunbathing. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight is detrimental to pearls, but sessions for a couple of hours can whiten them. After the procedure, the beads are wrapped in cloth. Sometimes a series of sunbathing is required. It is important to monitor natural pearls to avoid overheating.
3. Sea water. Place it in a container with sea water for several hours. It is obtained by dissolving sea salt in water (from a supermarket or pharmacy). Any water, including tap water.

You can use a special paste, but this is a last resort, since it wears away the pearls.

Restoring mother of pearl

To avoid having to look for information on how to restore mother-of-pearl on pearls, periodically give your jewelry sea baths in moderately salty water. Do not keep items in a box for months. Legend has it that forgotten pearls die.

People often look for information on how to restore pearls if the top layer has worn off. Jewelers usually use a 5-6% solution of acetic and hydrochloric acid. The damaged shell dissolves in an acidic environment, revealing a new, shining layer underneath. Just do not overexpose the beads in the solution, otherwise the decoration will be damaged.

Cleaning pearls at home

In order to clean pearls without damaging them, you will need:

• Warm water;
• A piece of soft cloth;
• A bowl;
• Olive oil;
• Detergent.

Instructions for cleaning pearls:

• Pour water into a bowl and dissolve 1-2 drops of detergent in it. It is advisable to use unscented products; baby soap is best.
• Place the decoration in the resulting solution, holding it by the clasps without touching the stones.
• After a few minutes, remove the product from the water, also without touching the pearls, and place it on a previously prepared cloth.
• Wait until it dries completely, then inspect the product. Repeat the procedure again if necessary.
• Apply olive oil to a cloth and rub the jewelry to make it shine again.

Important! Do not rub pearls with brushes. This way you can damage its fragile structure.

If for some reason this cleaning method does not suit you, then you can use other methods:

• Apply a small amount of potato starch to a soft cloth and gently wipe the stone.
• Give your jewelry to professionals who will clean the product with special products.
• Purchase jewelry paste from a specialty store and wipe your pearls from time to time.
• Soak nylon tights in soapy water and treat the jewelry.

Pearl storage

It is important to understand not only how to care for pearls, but also how to store them. Here are some tips:

• Keep mother-of-pearl items in soft bags, separate from hard stones, gold-plated silver and copper.
• Before storing Majorica pearl jewelry, wipe it with a damp cloth with a drop of vodka.
• Periodically change the stretched thread on the beads. Tie knots between the beads.
• When removing jewelry, grasp the clasp, not the stones.
• Avoid wearing beads on a stiff wool sweater.
• Do not leave pearls on the windowsill, under the hot rays of the sun.

There is no fundamental difference in how to care for freshwater or cultured pearls. If handled with care, any pearl will last for decades and will be inherited by your children and grandchildren.

Beads and necklace

To properly care for your beads, you need to consider the following:

1. When purchasing, it is better to choose a product with beads separated by thread knots. This insulates each bead, reducing fraying.
2. The thread on which the pearls are collected gradually stretches and frays. Dirt accumulates between the beads, which can damage them from the inside. Therefore, the thread is changed after two to four years, depending on the degree of use.
3. When stringing beads onto a new thread, it is advisable to make knots between them, as on the old one. The best thread for pearls is silk. It is delicate, does not stretch well, and reluctantly absorbs foreign components.
4. The necklace or beads are stored and dried in a horizontal position so that the thread does not stretch.

If you are unsure of your abilities, entrust the necklace update to a master. Saving on precious natural pearls is inappropriate.

Proper care of pearls

Pearls will always decorate your look! But there are several cases when it should be given a rest.

• Spa
  , sauna, pool or sea - such a vacation is beneficial exclusively for you. Sudden changes in temperature and excess moisture will destroy pearl jewelry.
• Take off your rings and earrings. when you go for a manicure and to a cosmetologist. A drop of cosmetics or nail polish thinner - and a living pebble can die forever.
• Repairs or cleaning around the house are also prohibited for pearls. Just like the gym or your favorite hobbies, where you can unnoticed catch a pebble and scratch it.
• First, make yourself beautiful, and then decorate yourself with pearls. Hairspray or hand cream won't go well with your favorite accessories.
• Cooking in the kitchen is another danger. Lemon juice or vinegar, for example, can literally dissolve nacre - the surface of pearls .
• To prevent pearls from turning yellow, protect the stone from tobacco smoke.

Wear pearls often! Here's a paradox: a delicate stone loves touching the skin. Thanks to this, it does not dry out and remains as beautiful as the first day you met. But don’t forget to wipe your pearls after each wear to remove any particles of fat or sweat.

What are pearls afraid of?

The organic origin of pearls makes them very susceptible to the external environment. Have a detrimental effect on the quality of the mineral:

❌ high temperatures - when overheated, mother of pearl becomes covered with microcracks;

❌ bright lighting - excess light, especially sunlight, causes stones to turn yellow and lose their shine;

❌ humidity - lack will lead to cracking of the beads, excess will lead to cloudiness and dullness;

❌ dust – when it gets on pearls, it leaves scratches and cracks.

How NOT to clean pearls

• Clean your jewelry without using baking soda or toothpaste! The abrasive consistency with small particles will damage not only the stone itself, but also the metal.
• Jewelry with pearls should not be boiled or held over steam.
• Ultrasound cleaning is also contraindicated for them - the waves can destroy the stone.
• Don't use ammonia - it's good for diamonds or cubic zirconia, but not for fragile pearls.
• After cleaning, do not dry the beads and bracelets in a vertical position: the base may stretch out and will not dry completely. Instead, place the ornament on a dry cotton or paper towel.

After cleaning the pearls, let them dry and do not lock them tightly in the box.

Framed products

Before cleaning, it is advisable to remove the pearls from the frame and clean the metal frame and beads separately. But this is not always possible.

Gold

Wash gold earrings or other jewelry with a solution of baby soap with a soft brush and dry. The metal is cleaned with a cotton swab soaked in cologne. Make sure that the product (or other special compounds for gold) does not come into contact with the pearls.

Silver

The decoration is washed with a weak solution of baby soap using a cotton swab or soft cloth. Pearls and silver do not like long baths, so the product is cleaned and rinsed quickly. Dry with a soft cloth.

For heavily darkened silver, a special procedure is performed. The decoration is placed in a bag or on ordinary fabric, the ends of which are tied with a knapsack. Sprinkle generously with salt and immerse in water. Rinse until the salt dissolves. The pearls shimmer again, the silver glitters.

How to properly dry and store pearls

You can dry beads and other pearl jewelry only in a horizontal position, so as not to stretch the thread and damage the structure. To do this, lay the products horizontally on a soft cloth in a dark and cool place. Never dry pearls in direct sunlight or ultraviolet radiation, near a radiator, radiator or heating device!

Pearls should be stored in a dry and dark place. A suitable option would be a separate box with a soft interior. Pearls are wrapped in velor or suede fabric or a bag. It is advisable to store products separately from metal and other stones.

In addition, it is important to follow the rules for caring for pearls:

• Do not wear pearl jewelry immediately after taking a bath or shower, as the material does not like high humidity;
• It is not recommended to wear the products on dirty skin, as the beads quickly absorb dirt and become dirty;
• Experts recommend putting on pearl jewelry last, after makeup and getting ready are completed. Remember that perfumes, cosmetics, hairspray and other chemicals negatively affect the appearance of the stone. Therefore, it is important that they do not get on the surface of the beads;
• Protect pearls from direct sunlight, so it is not recommended to take such jewelry to hot countries;
• When you get home, take off your pearl jewelry first. At the same time, when removing, hold the product by the clasp or clasp, and not by the beads;
• After each wear, wipe the jewelry with a dry or slightly damp soft cloth to remove dust and traces of sebum;
• Store the products in a separate box with soft inner lining. You can put the pearls in a bag or wrap them in a velor or suede cloth;
• The pearl thread is changed every two to three years, as it is also susceptible to contamination. In addition, over time the thread loses strength. When wearing beads daily, change the thread once a year;
• Separate the beads into knots so that they do not rub against each other;
• Do not wear pearls with clothes made from rough woolen materials.

In order for the products to retain their original appearance, color and shine, it is important to ensure proper care of the pearls. With regular cleaning, following the rules of storage and use, the beads will retain their natural pearlescent shine, shine and beauty for a long time. Please remember that this is a delicate piece of jewelry that requires careful care.

Rules for handling pearls

The mineral is classified as a living stone due to the creation process. Pearls acquire beautiful iridescence thanks to the mollusks that process each pebble. An organic mineral will quickly lose its shine if you do not pay attention to its care and cleaning.

Natural pearls are capricious and demanding of environmental conditions, artificial pearls are more resistant to moisture and temperature, but do not like external influences

To make your pearl necklace, earrings and rings play with all their colors, keep these rules in mind:

• The mineral does not withstand any exposure to chemicals. Creams, perfumes, and cleaning products destroy the beads. To prevent this, put on the beads after 10 minutes. after applying makeup. When cleaning products, do not use abrasive products.
• High temperatures cause pearls to split. You should not wear jewelry on the beach in extremely hot weather. Sun rays cause stones to tarnish.
• Pearls do not tolerate dryness and dust. If a girl has excessively dry skin, then it is better to avoid necklaces and beads. Earrings or rings are suitable as jewelry.

There are many products available for cleaning pearls. But not all of them take into account the tenderness of the mineral. The best way to restore the shine and brightness of pearls is to rinse them in warm water and wipe them with a soft cloth.

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How to wear pearls

Pearls can be found in a variety of jewelry for everyday wear and special occasions. If a woman wears accessories with sea stone every day, it is important to protect the mineral from pollution and negative environmental factors.

Basic rules for wearing jewelry:

1. All pearl-encrusted accessories must touch clean skin.
2. Jewelry is put on after applying decorative cosmetics and spraying perfume. Components of cosmetic products should not come into contact with the stone.
3. Before cleaning, going to the gym or swimming, remove accessories. If sweat, chlorine or household chemicals get on the pearls, the jewelry will be hopelessly damaged.

Do not wear pearls in the heat, as they quickly lose moisture, delaminate and become unsuitable for further wear.