How to Care for Your Pearls

(A Lifetime of Luster)

Pearls are living gems—they want to be worn, touched, and loved. Treat them like the skin you put them against, and they’ll stay luminous for generations.

1. Put them on last, take them off first
   Perfume, hairspray, and makeup are pearls’ worst enemies. Let everything else dry first, then add your pearls as the final flourish.
2. Wear them often
   Your skin’s natural oils are the best moisturizer for pearls. The more you wear them, the brighter they glow (even the South Sea and Tahitian ones love a night out).
3. Wipe them gently after every wear
   A soft, damp cloth (just water) removes body oils and residue. Do this while they’re still warm from your skin—it’s the pearl equivalent of tucking them in.
4. Check the bond on half-drilled or pegged pearls
   Many of my diamond-and-pearl pieces (like the Magnolia Ruffle and Bonbon styles) use a tiny, chemically bonded metal post inside the pearl. Heat, cold, and time can slowly weaken that bond. Once a month, gently wiggle the diamond/top section—if there’s any movement at all, stop wearing and ship them back to me immediately. A loose bond can snap and you’ll lose the pearl forever. (I’ll repair or re-bond it for free under warranty.)
5. Never soak them
   No ultrasonic cleaners, no jewelry dips, no swimming pools, no hot tubs. Pearls hate chlorine and harsh chemicals.
6. Store them flat and alone
   Lay them flat in their pouch or a soft-lined box (standing can stretch the silk). Keep them away from diamonds and harder metals—they scratch easily.
7. Restring every 1–3 years (or when you notice stretch)
   I knot every pearl by hand on silk with a tiny knot between each one so they never rub. Bring them home to New Orleans or ship them to me—I’ll restring and clean them for you.
8. Emergency fix
   If makeup or perfume gets on a pearl, rinse immediately with cool water and a drop of mild soap (Baby shampoo), then pat dry. Don’t let it sit, do it gently.

That’s it. Love them, wear them, wipe them, check the bond on the fancy ones, repeat.
Your pearls and loved ones will thank you.