Tips To Maintain Pearl Jewelry

Improvement

oi-Anwesha

By Anwesha Barari

Monday, October 10, 2011, 11:13

What can be more perfect than a pearl? Nothing makes you look more perfect than jewelry made of pearls. However when it comes to cleaning pearls the situation is not so perfect. This is primarily because most of the pearl jewelry we wear these days is made of cultured pearls. They are artificially manufactured by inserting a foreign body into oysters which is why their actual constitution is a bead like object coated with nacre. The natural pearl on the other hand is whole and solid as it forms naturally in the soft creases of the oysters stomach over many years.

The more the thickness of the nacre coating, the better the quality of the pearl but the trouble is while cleaning jewelry there is always a chance that the coating comes off or wears out. So the question remains, how can you maintain pearl jewelry properly without damaging it? These home improvement tips are your answer.

Tips To Maintain Pearl Jewelry:

• The first point is common for almost all kinds of jewelry and thus universally important. Don not apply perfume or make up on your pearl jewelry. Wear your string of pearls and earnings after you finish doing your make up and applying perfume.

• If you wear a pearl ring then remove it before you bathe. Harsh shampoos, soaps and too much water is not good for pearls. Wear it only after you finish applying body lotion on your hands.

• You need to be cleaning your pearls if they are looking dull or have become dirty. Use a soft muslin cloth to wipe your pearls. Harsh or rough cloths are abrasive and can damage the nacre coating of your pearl.

• If wiping is nor enough then you can dampen the cloth with water. But don't use too much water as it will weaken the string with which the pearls are held together.

• After cleaning jewelry with water, give it some breathing time. Never pack it off into your wardrobe immediately after cleaning it with after. Give it at least ten minutes under the fan to dry out and then pack it.

• After cleaning jewelry don't store it in a cramped box. Make sure that each piece of your jewelry has enough space. Our tendency is to stuff everything into one pouch or box because we are all pressed for space but that can make the pearls fall out of their setting sockets.

• Do not store pearls with other pieces of jewelry. This is especially true for pieces with sharp edges. If you store pearls with angular bangles the shinning nacre coating of the pearls may get scratched out.

• If you wear a patent string of pearls for a long time then it is normal for the string that holds it, be it nylon or thread, to get worn out. The trick is to know when it weakens and get your pearls restrung in a strong new string.

Use these cleaning tips to maintain pearl jewelry well.