How to take care of your pearl jewellery (2024)

It’s always important to know the why behind our actions, especially when it comes to caring for your jewellery. With lots of misinformation on social media and so-called ‘experts’, conflicting opinions can potentially lead to your pieces being damaged.

With pearls, this is even more important. As an organic gem, formed inside a living organism, they have a different composition from gemstones. Beginning life in an oyster or mussel, pearls actually occur when a parasite or irritant enters and makes itself at home. The idea that a beautiful pearl is created from this is extraordinary!

In order to protect itself from irritation, the oyster or mussel begins to form a protective layer around it. These fluid layers, much like an onion, create what we know as a pearl. If you want to get really scientific, the proper name for these layers is ‘nacre’ - basically the shell of the pearl.

As you can see, this process is intricate and delicate - the pearl is protected in the oyster or mussel and allowed to build itself up until the vessel no longer feels the irritation. But when the pearl is removed from the oyster or mussel, this is where special care should be taken to ensure the pearl isn’t exposed to bright and harsh light, as well as being stored appropriately so it doesn’t dry out.

At BRUNA, we only source our natural materials , such as our organic pearls, as responsibly as possible - which means we know the importance of providing that special care.

As with most things over time, age starts to take effect - and this is no different for pearls, especially if they haven’t been given the special care that they deserve.One element that attracts so many of us to pearls is their natural lustre. This is how the pearls interact with light and what we might normally just describe as ‘shiny’. But it’s so much more than that. 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.

We don’t like to push rules on you, but when it comes to wearing pearls, it’s a great idea to get into some good habits, especially if you’re hoping to wear your pearls regularly (which we hope you will!).

Below, we’ve created a quick-fire list, which will give you the basics when it comes to wearing your pearl jewellery.

With most jewellery, it’s always advisable to ensure you put your pieces on after you’ve got dressed and used any perfumes or other cosmetic products, such as deodorant or make-up. And when it comes to winding down for the day, your jewellery should be the first thing you remove and put away.

From a physical point of view, this means that you’re less likely to damage your pearl jewellery by catching it on any clothing. This is particularly important if you’re wearing a longer set of earrings, such as our St. Ives pair . Taking your pearls off first also means you can store them away safely, without leaving them lying around on hard surfaces.

Cosmetics and perfumes can be very harmful to your pearls, aside from dulling their natural shine. Although it can be tempting to spritz your favourite scent after you’ve finished getting ready, we’d always recommend doing this before you put on both your clothing and your jewellery.

All of our pearl jewellery is made with organic, seawater pearls, which is why it’s SO important to avoid any hard household chemicals whilst wearing them.

Pearls can be affected very easily by household cleaners, particularly ones with abrasive qualities. If you’re thinking about doing a spot of housework before removing your jewellery - think again! No dusty surface is worth damaging your pearls for, believe us.

Similar to cleaning products, cooking oils and spices can be extremely harmful to your pearl jewellery, especially if you’re wearing something like our Riva ring, made completely from a string of pearls.

Flavours and products like vinegar or lemon juice, with acidic properties, will damage the nacre and leave your pearls exposed. Grease, oil, and general food grime might be able to be wiped off your pearls but will leave lasting marks.

It’s not just perfume and deodorant that can affect the lustre of your pearls. Oil-based moisturisers (and that expensive eye cream you just bought) can all affect your jewellery. A great rule of thumb is to ensure you apply all these products before putting on your pearls - but also avoid putting any products on areas on your body where your jewellery might sit.

For example, if you’re wearing a pearl bracelet, don’t put your usual spritz of perfume on your wrist. If you’re wearing a pearl choker, it might be a good idea to forgo your neck cream, just this once. If you can’t avoid applying certain products to particular areas, always ensure the products have absorbed into your skin before putting your pearls on. You should always wash your hands before touching your pearl jewellery as well.

When we refer to ‘dry heat’ we mean hairdryers, curling tongs, or hair straighteners - anything that creates heat. So, ensure you style your hair before you put your pearls on, regardless of the pieces you’re wearing.

Pearls are sensitive to temperature, as they’re formed in water, so it can be really damaging to expose them to heat.

Although pearls were formed in the oceans, this doesn’t mean they want to go back there. When formed, pearls are protected in a mussel or oyster - not directly floating in seawater. If you decide to wear your pearls whilst swimming, the moisture will directly damage the jewellery, by eroding the string that the pearls sit on, to take the lustre off.

Always safely store your pearl jewellery away before going swimming, in both the sea and a chlorine-filled swimming pool. Not only that, but you run the risk of losing it!

We’ve all been there - you’re wearing your favourite woolly jumper, but it’s not quite cool enough to keep it on. You rip it off over your head and an earring or necklace clasp gets caught, flying across the room, out of your life forever.

With pearls, abrasive clothing can be detrimental, even if you’re not as careless as this when removing clothing. Soft fabrics, like silk and cotton, are ideal to wear your pearl pieces on, as they can’t catch or even scratch the pearls.

Losing jewellery is never a fun experience, particularly if your pieces have sentimental value, such as our bridal range.

Before you even consider wearing your pearl jewellery, you should always check the string and fixings. Anything loose or frayed is an indication of wear and tear but means that your pearls are at risk of falling apart. Having your pearl jewellery restrung is a straightforward process and will help them to last for longer.

Although pearl jewellery is beautiful, it’s not (and shouldn’t be) something you should consider wearing all the time - certainly every day, but not all day every day.

Wearing pearl jewellery is a massive no-no - not only because it can damage the jewellery, but also because it probably won’t be very comfortable!

Sweat is another liquid that you should try to avoid interacting with your pearl jewellery. Exposing pearls to regular perspiration can dull their shine and mean that they’ll require more cleaning than usual.

Exercising with pearl jewellery means you also run the risk of damaging or losing your pieces - and no run or gym class is worth that risk.

When it comes to your gold necklaces you might have these all hung up on your jewellery rack, mixed in with some silver too - but with pearl jewellery, it’s essential that they’re stored away from other pieces.

Pearls can be scratched easily, so you should always place them in a velvet bag or storage box.