Taking Care Of Your Pearls

Pearls were long known as the Queen of Gems, probably because of the difficulty of finding – and collecting – similarly sized gems of equal quality. Roman and Egyptian records mentioned pearls as prized items as far back as the 5th Century, B.C.; Chinese records go back even further.

The color of pearls varies with the oyster (or mollusk) in which it was formed, as well as its environment. Colors of natural pearls range from black to white, of which the rose color of Indian pearls is the most prized, as well as delicate shades of yellow, cream, lavender, gray, green, mauve, and blue. Cultured pearls, however, are being made in all colors of the rainbow.

Choosing Pearls

A few things to keep in mind when buying pearls (whether as earrings, bracelets or necklaces):

- There are no international standard for grading or rating pearls; size AA pearls in the United States may well be different in Europe or the Far East;

- Quality factors for pearls are lustre, nacre thickness, size, shape, colour, blemish, and matching on the strand;

- If you’re buying seawater pearls, the thickness of the nacre (or the material which makes up the pearl) is important to stop flaking and chipping;

- Bear in mind that pearls, even ‘cultured’ ones, are a natural product – which means that there are no truly ‘perfect’ pearls. The only ‘perfect’ pearls you’ll find are probably fake, so expect some imperfections even on the most expensive pieces;

- Naturally colored pearls will have small differences in shade along the strand.

If you’re buying a fair-sized pearl necklace, don’t just try it on for size. It will be an investment, and you’ll need to examine it carefully. How do the pearls match in terms of size, luster and shape? Place it against a light cloth or linen background and examine it in soft natural light – never let the salesperson push you to study your planned purchase in artificial light, the display cabinet’s ultraviolet light or harsh sunlight.

Pearl colors are a matter of personal choice; check it against your skin tone if you’re thinking of buying pearls with colors outside the classic white, ivory or cream.

Keep in mind the ‘natural’ nature of pearls – which is why you cannot count on a strand of perfectly round pearls. As a simple test, hold a strand or necklace around two feet away from you and turn it in your hands. Judge for yourself whether the pearls look mostly round and suitable for you.

The Care and Cleaning of Pearls

Keep in mind that pearls are ‘soft’ stones and cannot be exposed to too much heat or chemicals; clean them with a dry or damp cloth or chamois.

Some cleaning tips to keep in mind:

- Never use chemical cleaning products like detergents or anything acidic on the pearls; they are made of calcium carbonate and acid can destroy or mar them.

- Never use anything abrasive on your pearls – no toothbrushes, scouring pads or rough materials should be used as these can scratch or mar your pearls;

- Keep them in a soft bag or pouch, and separate them from any jewelry that can scratch them;

- Put on your pearls after you’ve put on perfume, make-up or hair spray;

- Take off your pearls if you’re taking a bath or going swimming; this can get the silk string wet and cause you to lose them;

- Keep in mind that you have to constantly re-string the pearls if you use them a lot.

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