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Care and Handling: Pearl Pearls are soft and delicate, special attention and care
are required to ensure your pearl jewelry to remain lustrous and beautiful for
generations to come. There
are some fossil pearls, dated 60 - 70 million years ago, that still retain
their luster. A. How to clean your pearls? 1.
After wearing the
pearls, wipe it with a soft damp cloth gently to remove body oils or dirt
before storing them. It
will ensure that they remain free from harmful build-ups which can dull the luster of a pearl over an extended
period of time. 2.
If you wear your pearls
frequently, you should wash them periodically. a)
Place your pearls in a
plastic colander to minimize handling your pearls. b)
Dip the colander
several times in a mild SOPA solution (NOT detergent) or
pearl-safe jewelry cleaner. c)
Rinse thoroughly in
clean water. d)
Pour the pearls onto a
moist towel and lay the pearls flat to dry. When the towel is dry, your pearls should be dry. e)
For pearl necklaces and bracelets, do not hang to dry to prevent silk cord from
stretching, 3.
NEVER use the following
substances to clean your pearls. a)
An ultrasonic cleaner b)
Detergent, bleaches or
baking soda c)
Ammonia or vinegar based products d)
Toothbrushes, scouring
pads or abrasive materials 4.
NEVER steam-clean pearls. Remarks: Please
be careful when you clean your jewelry which has a combination of gemstones
and pearls. Different gemstones
need special care when cleaning.
If in doubt, take it to your jeweler for a professional cleaning. B. Storing
the pearls 1.
Pearls should be
stored separately from other jewelry because of the pearl's soft surface
which can be easily scratched by other hard jewelry items. Silk bag, velvet-lined box or pearl
folder are good places to store pearls. 2.
Pearls should be
stored flat rather than hung to avoid premature stretching of thread. 3.
NEVER store pearls in a plastic bag. Some plastics emit chemicals that can
deteriorate or discolour the pearls. 4.
If the environment is too dry, the pearls may
crack. Pearls
are composed of approx. 2 to 4% water along with calcium carbonate and
organic binder called conchiolin. a)
NEVER store pearls in an airtight package such as a
plastic box because pearls need moisture. b)
NEVER put desiccant silica gel together with the
pearls. c)
Pearls should not be
stored in a safe or safety security box for extended period of time. The
ultra-dry atmospheric condition dries out the pearls causing them to
craze. Try to take the pearls
out of the safe box and get exposure under a moisture area regularly. 5.
Keep pearls away from excessive water such as in
the bathroom or shower. The
water may cause the hand-knotted strands to stretch or weaken the epoxy in
the pearls settings. 6.
NEVER keep pearls near
heaters or in places that get strong sunlight, such as a windowsill, they'll
dry out. 7.
Please mind your pets. They may swallow your pearls accidentally if you do
not store it in a safe place after removing it. C.
More guidelines to help
keep your pearls in top condition 1.
Personal Care Products: Cosmetics, perfume and hair
spray all contain chemicals that can dull the luster of a pearl. It is best to put your pearls on
AFTER applying makeup, perfume and hair spray. 2.
The natural acids contained in body oils and
perspiration (which is slightly acidic) can damage pearls. Remove pearls before
performing strenuous exercise or work. 3.
Avoid wearing pearls
with rough fabrics like Shetland wool. 4.
The first thing to do
when returning home is to take off the pearls. 5.
When taking off
pearls, grasp the shank, or metal part, rather than the pearl. This will prevent the pearl from
loosening and coming into contact with skin oil on your hand. 6.
Take your pearls off
while swimming or bathing. 7.
Pearl rings should be
taken off when washing hands or dishes. 8.
Do not wear pearls
when their string is wet. Wet
strings stretch and attract dirt, which is hard to remove. 9.
When to Have Pearls
Restrung? a) If
you wear your pearls often, they should be restrung or be checked whether the
mounting is securely by your jeweler once a year. b)
It the string stretches or loosens, it may
break suddenly. If there is space between the pearls when you undo the clasp
and hold the fitting in one hand, this is an indication that the string has
stretched. Please go to
your jeweler to replace the string. c) Fine pearls should be strung with silk and knots tied
between each pearl. Individual
knotting will prevent all the pearls in a strand from falling off should a
break occur. Knotting also
prevents the pearls from rubbing against each other. 10. Pearl
jewelry should be worn and enjoyed, not kept locked away in a safety deposit
box. If you have pearl jewelry,
perhaps passed down to you and do not suit your style, consider resetting it
into a modern piece. Please
visit our special order for more
information. Contact Us For any further queries, please feel free to
contact us by email, cs@supreme-gems.com. |