To protect the inside of their shells from parasites and foreign irritants, the mollusk coats it with nacre—an organic substance that gives mother-of-pearl its iridescent effect and distinct beauty. This multicolored iridescence is caused by the way light reflects on the layers of nacre on the shell.
Mother of pearl is delicate and will scratch if mishandled. Wrapping them in a soft cloth or silk bag (see below) for storage will help prevent damage. Clean after wearing by simply wiping with a soft cloth, chamois or microfiber jewelry cleaning cloth, either damp or dry.
The gem has to be protected from heating and open fire (due to the fact that pearls contain 2% of water, they can crack and loose their luster). Keep them away from acid attacks, abrasives, exhalations and cosmetics. Mostly jewelers “revive” pearls with weak solutions of hydrochloric acid or acetic acid.
Deep clean and polish your pearls to restore color and luster. This should be done every few years or so (more on that later).
Over time, pearls can become yellowish. When this happens, you can clean your pearls to restore their color and luster. Bear in mind that acid and alkaline chemicals can cause irreparable damage to pearls. This pearl cleaning process should therefore be undertaken with the utmost care.
After the beads are clean and dry, you can apply a light coating of mineral oil with a Q-tip, let sit overnight and wipe away any excess oil with a soft cloth.
Second, if exposed to hot water such as in a shower it can harm the nacre so in this case if wondering can mother of pearl get wet we recommend no. However outside of the shower, pool or beach it's still recommended to wear them often as pearls get better with wear.
The thin, delicate pieces require proper care. While nacre is a fairly hard substance, it is best to avoid a hard hit on the piece. Do not wear mother of pearl jewelry when applying lotions or perfumes. Avoid exposure to direct sunlight to prevent fading or discoloring the shell.
And we can recognize the authenticity of pearls by their luster. Due to a pearl's layering structure, all genuine pearls give off a lively impression, reflect the light and shine. If a pearl is not genuine, it does not have these properties and gives off a dull, artificial impression.
Nacre quality: Luster and nacre quality are closely related. If the nucleus is visible under the nacre, or if the pearl has a dull, chalky appearance, you can assume that the nacre is thin. This affects the luster as well as the durability of the pearl.
Exposure to water and chemicals in soaps and shampoos can cause damage to the delicate surface of the mother of pearl surface.
All types of inlay and stringing can be repaired including mother of pearl, shell, metals, ivory, tortoiseshell and bone. Marquetry is a specialism of the team, so if your item has missing parts they can match almost any wood and pattern either with new woods or period stock.
-Wear your pearls often. Contact with body oils will actually increase their luster. However, avoid contact with cosmetics, hairspray, cologne and perfume - any product containing dyes or alcohol. They have a deteriorating effect on pearls, causing discoloration and possible peeling.
You are correct that using a sterling silver cleaner will damage freshwater pearls. We suggest using a polishing cloth that does not contain chemicals or abrasives. We carry the Selvyt® polishing cloth which is a wonderful product to polish both pearls and sterling silver.
Pearls and opals are both soft stones and require more gentle methods. Stay away from toothpaste, ammonia, baking soda, vinegar, or anything too acidic or abrasive, as they can scratch or damage your pearls.
Yes, you can wear Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry every day, provided you aren't engaging in any activities that might damage your accessories. Take off your jewelry whenever you are exercising or performing work-related duties that could expose it to chemicals or otherwise result in physical damage.
This means that people of Taurus, Gemini, Virgo, Capricorn and Aquarius ascendant should not wear pearls. If such people wear pearls then their mind gets distracted and upheaval starts in life. Those people whose moon is placed in the 12th or 10th house in their horoscope are also not advised to wear pearls.
After wearing your pearl, you can simply clean it with a soft cloth which may be moistened with non-chlorinated water. We advise against coating your pearl with coconut oil or olive oil, as we have seen suggested, because this would only cause dust to stick to it.
On the Mohs Hardness Scale, mother of pearl has a hardness of 3.5 and is easily sanded. It is durable and provides an excellent surface to polish and/or finish.
After wearing pearls, wipe them with a soft cloth to remove any traces of cosmetic products or body sweat. To shine pearls, you can put a few drops of olive oil, coconut oil or monoi oil on the pearls, and then wipe them with a soft cloth to remove the excess oil. Pearls should be stored separately from other jewelry.
Do pearls lose their luster or become dull? It's possible that pearls can lose their shimmer and shine over time, but you can prevent it from happening by learning how to clean your cultured pearl necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings.
The lustre, or lustre, of a pearl, is its brilliance and what makes them so unique. Throughout the years, pearls can lose their lustre, becoming dull. However, with due care and attention, there are plenty of ways to look after and maintain the lustre of your pearls.
As you exercise your body will produce quite a large amount of sweat that is very dangerous for your pearls as it is very acidic. If sweat is allowed to come into contact with your pearls and remain in contact with them over time, it will start to eat away at the nacre and cause the pearls to lose their shine.