Correct care and storage methods for pearl professionals
Do you find pearls delicate and difficult to maintain? In fact, there are many customers who say that. However, once you know the tricks, it is not difficult to care for pearls. It would be a shame if you only wear pearls once in a while. I hope you will learn more about the tips for maintaining care.
So, we'll introduce you to pearl care, which customers ask us about on a daily basis. I had some questions about this article, so I spoke to a professional who runs a pearl farming business in Mie Prefecture so that I could answer with confidence.
First, I was taught how to care for pearls.
Basic care of pearls
1. Gently wipe the surface with a soft cloth wet with water and wrinkle it hard. (Optional)
2. Gently wipe with a dry, soft cloth.
3. Dry in the shade for a while. (important)
4. Store in a case. (It's even better if it contains a moisture control agent)
If you are concerned about sweating or cosmetics from pearls, such as when you sweat a lot in the summer or wearing a necklace with sunscreen on it, wipe it with water 1. Otherwise, you can omit 1.
Then gently wipe with a dry, soft cloth. Special pearl cloths are also on sale, so you can buy them. What you should be careful about is that some products contain abrasives, such as silver cloths that polish silver products, and polishing pearls will have the opposite effect. Some items are difficult to see, so please check before wiping.
After wiping, dry in the shade for a while. Pearl necklaces are similar to the pearl itself, but the threads connected are also affected by sweat. The trick to keeping it lasts for a long time is to dry out thoroughly.
To store, please place it in a special case so that it does not touch other jewelry. If possible, it's a good idea to include a moisturiser specifically for pearls.
In this way, wipe with water → dry → dry → store
is the basic care of pearls. It's easy to remember, isn't it?
Things you want to know to use pearls for a long time
The most important thing to keep in mind when caring for pearls is moisture. Whether or not the pearl comes into contact with it can cause damage. To change the sentenceToo damp(overwater),Too hot and dryIt means (underwater).
Damage from too damp
If you leave the sweat on the pearls as is, the surface of the pearl will be damaged and fine unevenness will occur. This will reflect light diffusely, resulting in a blurry appearance. If this goes on, it will become cloudy. To prevent this, wipe it off immediately after removing it. Please use the above methods 1 to 4 to care for it.
Damage caused by heat and too dry
If it gets too dry, the pearls will shrink. This occurs when the pearls run out of water. To prevent this, it is effective to prevent too much hot air from the heating when worn, to avoid leaving it in a hot place, such as inside a car in the summer, to store it in a case with a moisture control agent.
Other things to be careful about
Cosmetics, perfumes, hairsprays, sunscreens, and more can damage pearls. Don't forget to take care of it. Food and drink alcohol such as vinegar, dressings, and wine is not good either, so if it gets on, just wash that area quickly with water. Also, insect repellents are not good either. It's an unexpected blind spot, but tortoise jewelry may contain insect repellents to prevent insects from being eaten away. It is not good to store pearls together, so please do not store them in the same place.
Also, sometimes I see sites that say that tap water contains chlorine so it should not be brought into contact with pearls, but that's a mistake.
This may be a bit difficult, but tap water consumed in Japan is strictly controlled under the Water Act, with a water quality standard of pH set at 5.8 or more and 8.6 or less. The neutrality is 7.0, and the smaller the number, the more acidic it becomes, and conversely, the larger the neutrality it becomes. The pH of the tooth enamel, which is made up of ingredients similar to pearls, dissolves at 5.5. The enamel of the teeth is made of calcium phosphate and the nacre layer is made of calcium carbonate. Looking at the above standard values for tap water, even if it is the most acidic, it is 5.8, so the pearls will not melt.
The fact that the pearls from Shosoin treasures still remain proven that pearls last long with proper care and storage. Don't be overly scared, and enjoy pearl jewelry well with proper care and storage!
This time we discussed the basics of how to care for and store pearls.