It is said that “Next to sound judgment, diamonds and pearls are the rarest things in the world.”  And if you do have a strand of pearls resting in the recesses of your jewelry box, then you are indeed a lucky lady. Prized possession they are, it is necessary that you take proper care of your pearls so that they remain timelessly beautiful. These items of jewelry have a bewitching personality that attracts men and women alike.

Pearls are made up of calcium carbonate and hence they are not tolerant towards chemicals. It is therefore, necessary that they should be kept in a safe place. You can keep your pearls looking newer by keeping them in proper conditions.

Following are some of the ways in which you can safeguard your jewelry:

• Always wear your pearls after you have put on your makeup and perfume. Contact will cause discoloration. And they should be the first to be removed.

• They should not e worn on a daily basis. This might cause undue stretching of the strings.

• Perspiration is harmful. Hence, wipe the pearls with a soft cloth before returning them to the jewelry box.

• Use a mild soap to clean the pearls. But don’t rub it vigorously. Always use a soft cloth to wipe them.

• You can employ a soft manicure brush to remove any grime that is stuck.

• After washing don’t pull the strings. Leave the necklace to dry naturally.

• Don’t use abrasive cleaners as they will cause spots.

• Store your pearl jewelry in different compartments to avoid getting scratched by metal jewelry.

• Always store them in a soft silk pouch to avoid friction.

• Keeping your jewelry in a vault is not a good idea. The dry conditions will cause the pearls to crack.

• Never hang your pearl necklace as it will stretch the string beyond use.

• Check your pearl jewelry on regular basis. If the need arises, have the necklace restrung.

• Have the necklace strand knotted at near the clasp. This way if the strand breaks, you won’t lose your pearls.

• Avoid wearing the pearls in areas that have high temperature and are constantly exposed to bright sunlight.