Looking After Pearls

Natural Pearls - these are formed without any man made involvement from the sea or in freshwater.  When an irritant embeds itself into a particular type of mussel or oyster mollusc, it protects itself by forming a nucleus over the irritant.  Over many years, layers of nacre cover it to produce a Pearl.  They can be rounded in shape but are not always perfectly smooth.

Saltwater Cultured Pearls - the majority of Pearls produced presently are cultured Pearls.  Both freshwater and sea Pearls can be produced as cultured Pearls.  They are similarly formed to natural Pearls however human intervention is required to place the irritant into the mollusc.  Sea Pearls tend to have a more rounded shape and a higher value than freshwater Pearls.

Cultured Freshwater Pearls – the majority of freshwater Pearls come from China.  Freshwater mussels are able to produce anything up to 50 Pearls from the mollusc which can take some years to form.  Freshwater Pearls have a stronger nacre or coating than sea Pearls so they are less prone to wear and tear.  They come in a variety of colours and shapes.

The best way to care for your Pearls is with a slightly wet soft cloth.  Just gently wipe them over and that should be enough, but you could use a small amount of soapy water too. 

We would advise that you should avoid any cosmetics and perfumes when wearing your pearls.

We also recommend that you have your pearls re-strung fairly regularly, as the silk does stretch over time.

If you have any questions or concerns about your Pearls please do get in touch, and we will be happy to help you.