Pearl jewelry is cared for by putting it on after perfume and makeup, wiping it with a soft cloth after each wear, storing it flat and away from harder jewelry, and restringing strands when the silk stretches. Pearls are soft and sensitive to chemicals, so never clean them in ultrasonic or steam cleaners.
Pearls are one of the few gems made by a living animal, and they need a little more care than diamonds or gold. The good news is that pearl care is simple and takes seconds once it becomes a habit. Here is how to wear, clean, store and restring pearls so they keep their glow for generations.
How do you care for pearl jewelry?
To care for pearl jewelry, put it on after perfume, hairspray and makeup, wipe the pearls with a soft cloth after each wear, store them flat and away from harder jewelry, and have strands restrung when the silk stretches. Never clean pearls in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner, and keep them away from chemicals, acids and heat.
Pearls need different care from diamonds and gold because they are organic gems made of layers of nacre. They are soft, with a hardness of only about 2.5 to 3 on the Mohs scale, and their surface reacts with chemicals that would not harm most gemstones. Treat them gently, and good-quality pearls last for generations.
2.5 to 3
Mohs hardness; pearls scratch easily
Last on
Put pearls on after cosmetics
Flat
Store strands flat, never hanging
How should you wear pearls to protect them?
Last on, first off. Put pearls on after you have applied perfume, hairspray, lotion and makeup, and let them dry first. Take pearls off before you remove makeup or wash your face. Cosmetics, perfume and even perspiration can dull the surface over time.
Keep them dry and away from water activities. Remove pearl jewelry before swimming, showering, bathing and exercising. Chlorinated and salt water are hard on nacre, and water weakens the silk thread in strands. The post can you wear fine jewelry in the shower? covers which pieces can and cannot get wet.
Avoid knocks and abrasion. Because pearls are soft, they scratch against harder jewelry and rough surfaces. Wear pearl rings and bracelets with care, and take them off for housework, gardening and sports. Pearls are also best removed at night; the post is it safe to sleep in jewelry? explains why.
Wear them often. Pearls are meant to be worn. Regular wear and gentle wiping keep them looking their best, and many pearl owners find that pearls kept in a box for years look less lively than pearls worn often.
How do you clean pearl jewelry?
After every wear: wipe each pearl gently with a very soft, clean cloth to remove skin oils, sweat and cosmetics. This simple step does more to protect pearls than any cleaner.
For a deeper clean: dampen a soft cloth in warm water with a drop of mild soap and wipe the pearls, then wipe again with a cloth dampened in clean water. Lay strands flat on a towel to dry completely before wearing or storing. Never soak a strung necklace, and never hang a wet strand, because the wet silk stretches.
What never to use: ultrasonic cleaners, steam cleaners, jewelry dips, ammonia, vinegar, bleach, toothpaste and abrasive cloths. Any of these can damage nacre, loosen pearls from their settings or weaken the thread.
| When | What to do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Every wear | Wipe with a soft, clean cloth | Removes sweat, oils and cosmetics before they build up |
| Every few weeks | Wipe with a cloth dampened in warm, soapy water, then dry flat | Deeper clean without soaking the silk |
| Every year or so | Check the knots and silk for stretching or fraying | Catches weak thread before the strand breaks |
| As needed | Restring with silk and a knot between each pearl | Keeps strands secure and pearls from rubbing |
For pearl pieces set with diamonds, clean the diamonds with a soft brush and soapy water only around the stones, keeping the pearl itself out of the water. The guide to caring for diamond jewelry covers diamond-specific care.
How should you store pearls?
Store pearls flat. Lay necklaces and bracelets flat in a soft pouch or a lined compartment. Hanging a strand for long periods stretches the silk.
Keep them separate. Store pearls away from other jewelry, especially diamonds, gold chains and gemstones, which can scratch them. A dedicated soft pouch or a separate compartment in your jewelry box works well.
Let them breathe. Pearls do best in normal room conditions. Avoid sealing them in airtight plastic bags for long periods, and keep them away from heat sources, direct sunlight and very dry places, which can dry out the nacre over time.
Use them as a reminder. If your pearls live in a separate pouch, keep it somewhere you will see it. Pearls that are worn and wiped regularly stay in better condition than pearls that are forgotten.
Do Not Store Pearls in a Safe Long Term
Very dry, enclosed spaces such as safes and bank boxes can dry out pearls if they stay there for years. If you must store them that way, take them out and wear them from time to time.
When should pearls be restrung?
Pearl necklaces and bracelets are strung on silk thread, usually with a small knot between each pearl. Silk is soft and drapes beautifully, but it stretches and weakens with wear, moisture and time. Strands worn often may need restringing every year or two; strands worn occasionally can go longer.
Look for the warning signs: gaps appearing between the knots and the pearls, a strand that feels longer or looser than before, frayed or discolored thread, or a clasp that wobbles. Any of these means it is time to restring.
Restringing is a routine jeweler service, and it is a good moment to have the clasp checked and the pearls given a gentle professional clean. The knots between pearls are important: they stop pearls rubbing against each other and mean that if the strand breaks, you lose only one pearl rather than the whole necklace. The pearl jewelry buying guide covers what to look for in a quality strand.
Pearl care checklist
On after cosmetics, off before water and sleep, wipe after each wear, store flat and apart, check the silk yearly and restring when gaps appear.
Does pearl care differ by pearl type?
The same rules apply to all real pearls. Freshwater, Akoya, South Sea and Tahitian cultured pearls are all made of nacre and need the same gentle care, as do natural pearls. The guide to natural, cultured and imitation pearls explains how they differ in origin, not in care.
Imitation pearls need care too, but for a different reason: their pearly coating can chip or peel. Keep them away from perfume and abrasion, and wipe them gently.
Pearl earrings and rings deserve a little extra attention. Pearls in studs and rings are usually glued onto a post or peg, and harsh cleaners, soaking and heat can weaken that bond. Wipe them rather than rinsing them, and if a pearl ever feels loose on its post, stop wearing it until a jeweler has reset it.
Good care also protects value. Luster and surface are among the most important pearl quality factors, as the guide to evaluating pearl quality explains, and both suffer when pearls are exposed to chemicals or scratched. A few seconds of care after each wear keeps that luster for decades. For care across all your jewelry, see the fine jewelry care guide.
"Pearls should never be cleaned in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner."
GIA, Pearl care and cleaning
Further reading: GIA pearl overview. GIA notes that pearl can be damaged by many chemicals and all acids, a list that includes hair spray, perfume, cosmetics and even perspiration. It recommends wiping cultured pearls with a very soft, clean cloth after each wearing.
In Short
1Put pearls on after perfume and makeup and take them off before water, exercise and sleep.
2Wipe pearls with a soft cloth after each wear and never use ultrasonic or steam cleaners.
3Store pearls flat and apart from other jewelry, and restring strands when the silk stretches.
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Caring for pearls comes down to a few easy habits: on last, off first, wipe after every wear, store flat and apart, and restring when the silk stretches. Skip ultrasonic cleaners and harsh chemicals, wear your pearls often, and they will keep their soft glow for generations. Every order ships free with a 30-day return policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
01
Can you get pearls wet?
Pearls can get slightly damp during gentle cleaning, but they should not be soaked or worn in the shower, pool or ocean. Water weakens the silk thread, and chlorine and salt can harm the nacre.
02
How do you clean pearls at home?
Pearls are cleaned at home by wiping them with a soft cloth after each wear and, for a deeper clean, a cloth dampened in warm, mildly soapy water. Dry strands flat before wearing or storing.
03
Can you use jewelry cleaner on pearls?
Jewelry cleaner should not be used on pearls unless it is made specifically for them. Many cleaners contain ammonia or other chemicals that damage nacre, and ultrasonic and steam cleaners are never safe.
04
How often should pearls be restrung?
Pearls worn often usually need restringing every year or two, and pearls worn occasionally less often. Restring sooner if you see gaps between the knots or frayed silk.
05
Does perfume damage pearls?
Perfume can damage pearls over time because pearls are sensitive to chemicals and acids. Apply perfume and let it dry before putting pearls on.
06
How should pearls be stored?
Pearls should be stored flat in a soft pouch or lined compartment, away from harder jewelry that can scratch them. Avoid airtight plastic bags and very dry places for long periods.