Caring for Your South Sea Pearl Jewellery: Maintenance Tips and Tricks
South Sea pearls represent the pinnacle of pearl luxury with their remarkable size, exceptional lustre, unmistakable warmth, etc. While these organic pearls are inherently classic and elegant, they require attentive care and maintenance to retain their aesthetic beauty. If you don’t follow the necessary maintenance tips and tricks, your South Sea pearl jewellery can lose its signature glow and deteriorate prematurely.
While pearls are perceived as resilient gemstones, similar to diamonds, they don’t stand close to diamonds on the Mohs hardness scale. Additionally, pearls are living gems that respond to how they’re treated. Their calcium carbonate composition makes them susceptible to acid damage when exposed to perfumes, cosmetics, and even perspiration.
Knowing these crucial details can help you take better care of your South Sea pearl jewellery so it retains its original shine for decades. If you own a South Sea pearl necklace, earring, bracelet, or any other jewellery, following the below-mentioned maintenance tips and tricks can help.
- Follow the ‘Last On, First Off’ Rule
The ‘last on, first off’ principle should become your second nature if you wear South Sea pearl jewellery. According to this principle, women should apply cosmetics, perfumes, hairsprays, lotions, etc., before wearing their pearl jewellery so the gemstone doesn’t get affected by the chemicals present in these items. Let these items dry fully before donning your South Sea pearl earrings, bracelets, necklaces, etc.
This simple technique can minimize the chances of pearls coming into contact with harmful acids and alcohols that can permanently damage the gemstone’s surface, dissolving its narc, structural integrity, and lustre over time. Besides wearing your pearl jewellery last, ensure it’s the first thing you remove after arriving home.
It will minimize pearl’s exposure to household chemicals, cooking oils, perspiration, etc., accumulated throughout the day. By following this simple yet powerful technique, you can extend the life of your pearl jewellery and retain its aesthetic appeal.
- Proper Cleaning for Maximum Luster
If you own golden South Sea pearl jewellery, you cannot avoid regular yet gentle cleaning using the correct technique. Those who wear pearl jewellery regularly should wipe them gently using a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth to remove any oils and dirt residue accumulated on the gemstone’s surface before placing them in the storage box.
You can do a once-in-a-month deep cleaning using a mild solution of lukewarm water with a few drops of light, detergent-free soap if regular cleaning is impossible. Regardless of your cleaning duration, ensure you never use harsh chemicals, ultrasonic cleaners, or steam treatments on your pearl jewellery, as they can significantly damage pearls.
We recommend cleaning your pearl jewellery when accumulated dirt becomes visible on the surface, the lustre starts diminishing, or a chalky appearance starts taking over.
- Strategic Storage Solutions
Proper storage is one of the best and easiest ways to maintain your natural South Sea pearls jewellery. It is one of the most overlooked aspects of handling pearl jewellery, yet the most powerful. Unlike other gemstones, real pearls contain organic material with approximately 2-4% water content. Hence, they need space to ‘breathe’ to maintain their moisture balance and prevent cracking or dehydration.
Mangatrai recommends storing pearl jewellery in soft, breathable fabric like silk, unbleached cotton, chamois, etc. Never store these gems in plastic or airtight containers that trap moisture and accelerate deterioration. Numerous dedicated pearl pouches are available in the market, so invest in high-quality pouches to keep them in good condition for extended years.
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Restringing Schedule for Pearl Strands
The best South Sea pearls jewellery deserves dedicated maintenance effort to keep them in their best condition for an extended period. If your pearl jewellery features long and multiple strands, you must have a frequent restringing schedule to detangle any knots formed in the chain.
Many pearl accessories use silk thread, as it was traditionally used for stringing pearls. If you don’t pay attention, these threads may deteriorate over time due to oils from skin contact, cosmetic residue, and the natural ageing of the fibre. You can take your pearl jewellery for professional restringing every 12 to 18 months if you wear them regularly. Those with occasional wear can get it done every 2 to 3 years.
We encourage people to watch for signs indicating immediate restringing, such as visible stretching between pearls, thread discolouration, knots coming undone, or pearls rotating freely on the strand. If you notice any of these signs, take your pearl jewellery to a professional for immediate help.
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Preventing Physical Damage during Activities
Whether you own an elaborate South Sea pearl choker or a delicate pearl bracelet, one of the best things you can do to maintain these accessories is to be mindful of where you wear them. Since pearls are vulnerable to scratches, chips, discolouration, etc., wearing them during activities like exercising, swimming, gardening, cooking, hiking, putting on makeup, etc., can permanently damage their structural integrity and surface.
Hence, pearl jewellery should always be removed before engaging in any such physical activity. If you’ve paid a high South Sea pearl price to own the jewellery, you must be careful when wearing them because even seemingly innocuous activities like handling wine glasses at dinner parties warrant caution because accidentally spilled beverage can cause instant damage.
This simple yet highly effective technique can help you maintain your pearl jewellery effortlessly. If your daily routine comprises high-activity situations and you prefer wearing pearl jewellery, ensure you invest in more durable options for easy maintenance.
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Adequate Maintenance to Preserve Treasures for Generations
Maintaining pearl jewellery can seem challenging, but it becomes effortless with the right guidance. People who own South Sea pearl jewellery can implement the maintenance tips and tricks discussed in this blog to retain their pearl’s aesthetic value and structural integrity.
Those who cannot clean pearl jewellery at home can get them professionally cleaned by a reliable jeweller. If you want to add a new jewellery featuring authentic South Sea pearls, consider exploring our latest collection. We provide the most timeless designs and competitive South Sea pearls price in India that is hard to compete with.