How to Clean Pearl Jewelry

A pearl is an exquisite thing of beauty, and if you have pearl jewelry, you should know how to properly care for it. Pearls are extremely soft, and the care and cleaning is much different than that of other precious and semi-precious gemstones.

Pearl jewelry needs to be handled differently from other jewelry. For instance, when removing a pearl ring, you should always hold on to the shank (the band) rather than the pearl. Remember to always remove pearl rings when you are preparing food. You should also have pearl necklaces restrung annually, if you wear them frequently. NEVER wear pearl jewelry in a swimming pool. Chlorine and other chemicals are extremely hazardous to the health of pearls.

When you wear your pearl jewelry, it is wise to wipe it down with a soft cloth or chamois (damp or dry) as soon as you take it off, in order to keep perspiration from damaging the surface of the pearls. Although your body oils can help to enhance the lustre and shine of your pearls, perspiration is acidic, and over time, it can cause your pearls to “erode”, and actually change from round to a barrel-shape.

Cleaning Pearl Jewelry

Because pearls are so soft and delicate, when it comes to cleaning, you need to be extra-careful. For instance, you should never use any type of harsh cleaners on pearls, including baking soda, dish liquid, bleach, powdered cleansers (such as Ajax) or cleaners with ammonia. Here are a few more tips for cleaning your pearl jewelry safely:

• Use warm, not hot water to clean pearl jewelry.
• Use only mild soaps, such as Ivory detergent.
• Only use jewelry cleaning solutions that are safe for pearls.
• Never use abrasive pads or brushes to clean pearls. Use a soft cotton  or chamois cloth instead.
• Do not use jewelry cleaning cloths made for gold and silver jewelry, as these contain chemicals that could damage your pearls.
• Do not use an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner for pearls.
• Do not steam clean pearls.
• Do not hang pearl to dry. Instead, lay them flat on a clean, damp cloth. When the cloth is dry, your pearl jewelry should be too.
• Do not wear strung pearls while they are still wet.
• Put on pearl jewelry after applying makeup and hairspray, both of which are extremely harmful to pearls.
• Do not use hand lotion while wearing pearl rings.

Storing Pearl Jewelry

Pearl jewelry should always be stored separately from your other jewelry. Never let your pearls rub against other jewelry items, as the other pieces can scratch the nacre of the pearls. If you don’t have a special drawer in your jewelry box that you can put your pearls in by themselves, they should be placed inside a soft cloth bag. Make sure to store each piece of pearl jewelry separately. If you properly look after your pearl jewelry, you are sure to have pieces that you will treasure for a lifetime.

Pearl Earrings for Your Wedding Day

Other than diamonds, pearls are the most popular gem for wedding day jewelry. Not only are pearls beautiful and one of a kind, they have also long symbolized qualities that embody a woman on her wedding day. Since they have been used in fine jewelry for thousands of years, pearls have come to symbolically represent virtue, purity and beauty. They are also often used as a representation for faith since the Bible refers to religion as a pearl. For these reasons, choosing a gorgeous piece of pearl jewelry is perfectly befitting a bride.

Since most brides are already wearing their engagement ring on their wedding day (and will soon also be wearing a wedding band), additional ring jewelry is not commonly worn as a bridal accessory.  Although this convention has been challenged with the adorable trend of bridal cocktail rings, pearl necklaces, bracelets and earrings are still far more common bridal accessories than pearl rings. We love the look of wedding day pearls and want to highlight some of our favorite options for pearl bridal jewelry. This week we’re focusing on the timeless pearl earring, which we think perfectly frames the face of a glowing bride.

Tahitian Pearl & Diamond Opera Dangle Earrings

When it comes to pearls, a Tahitian black pearl is the rarest and most coveted. For women infusing their wedding with vintage glamour, this pair of opera dangle earrings is sheer perfection. Just make sure to pair them with very simple additional accessories to let them take center stage and shine.

10 mm White Pearl and Diamond Drop Earrings

These pearl and diamond drop earrings (pictured at top) are the ultimate classic. They could have been worn in the 1940s or 50s and have looked just as stunning and apropos as they would on today’s modern bride.  Even better, they are the kind of earring that can be dressed up or down and taken just about anywhere. When making a jewelry investment, wearability is a key influencer in the  item’s worth; precisely why this gorgeous pair of earrings is worth every cent.

Golden Pearl and Sapphire Earrings

Two golden South Sea pearls dangle alluringly from a clean row of amber colored sapphires in this lovely pair of earrings. Though this is the same design as the earrings above, they make an entirely different statement in the warm hue. The amber sapphires and golden pearls make these earrings an ideal choice for a cozy autumn wedding.

South Sea Pearl Diamond Pave Stud Earrings

These stunning little studs are perfectly ladylike. They would be absolutely lovely paired with a bateau neckline wedding gown or other high-neck creation, or worn as a set with a pretty white pearl necklace.  Like the white pearl and diamond drop earrings, this is one piece of jewelry that can be worn with anything and will stand the test of time.

June Birthstone – Pearl Jewelry

The lovely pearl is the June birthstone, as well as the astral stone for Gemini and Cancer. The illustrious gem has a long and storied history, and is the oldest known gemstone to be used in jewelry.

Though no one knows when oysters first began forming pearls, the first known use of the pearl in jewelry was around 500 B.C.;  remnants of a pearl earring were found inside the sarcophagus of a Persian princess, now on display at the Louvre.  Civilizations have been built on the wealth from pearls, Cleopatra drank a pearl to prove her love, and St. Augustine  even declared that the pearl be reserved as the gemological symbol of Jesus Christ.   During the Roman civilization, only the royalty and aristocracy were allowed to wear pearls, adding to their prestige and desirability.

Even the Bible mentions the pearl nearly ten times, the most famous reference being in regards to the Pearl Gates of Heaven:

“And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.”  Revelations 21:21

The other famous biblical pearl reference appears in Matthew 7:6 , where the pearl is a symbol for religion:

“Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”

Throughout the centuries the pearl has served as  a symbol of purity, religion, perfection,  virtue, wealth and innocence.  It was also revered as the most precious gem until the diamond was discovered in the 1700s, and is still the only gem created by a living creature.  Though today most pearls are cultivated by placing an irritant inside the oyster (thus stimulating the formation of a pearl), they are still incredibly precious and sought-after for their beauty and uniqueness. No two pearls are alike, which is why they make such special jewelry pieces.

Apples of Gold is excited to introduce a wealth of gorgeous new pearl jewelry to our collection. From stunning Tahitian pearl rings and earrings to breathtaking diamond and pearl necklaces and bracelets, our pearl jewelry makes a lovely gift for June birthdays… and just about any other occasion as well.

Origin of the Pearl

“This pearl has become my soul. . . . If I give it up, I shall lose my soul.”

And such was the pronouncement inspired by the Pearl, in John Steinbeck’s 1947 novel of the same title. No other kind of gem or jewelry in history has inspired unfailing desire and to this extent, whether in fiction or in real life. Through the centuries, it has been the subject of curiosity and served as the timeless muse among the greatest writers for many centuries. As the world’s oldest gem, one could scarcely imagine how much and how long pearls have stirred man’s imagination.

For the next 1,500 years after its discovery, ancient people have debated the gem’s origin. And for that long, they held inaccurate theories and, thereby, beliefs  about how pearls are made. In Greece, they believed that pearls were made through water nymphs’ tears dropped inside an oyster. Europeans, on the other hand, long held the belief that oysters open up to receive the morning dew and as these dews were coated by oysters, it formed a pearl. It wasn’t until the native Americans disputed this belief that the world view on the origin of pearls was presented correctly. Since then, a pearl has been described as “a smooth, lustrous, variously colored deposit, chiefly calcium carbonate, formed around a grain of sand or other foreign matter in the shells of certain mollusks or shell as a gem”.

The appeal of the pearl has not diminished since the time of its first discovery between 4,000 B.C.-6,000 B.C. along the Persian gulf. Ancient Sanskrit sacred texts are filled with references to this ancient beauty. They went as far as to state that the god Krishna discovered the world’s first ever pearl.  Even the Koran enthused that pearls shall be part of the Muslims reward in paradise. It was revered, admired and coveted by old civilizations; from the ancient Chinese, Indian, Egyptians, to the Romans and Greeks.

Because of its appearance, the Pearl has also become a symbol of purity, chastity and gentility. The ancient Greeks believed pearls as a symbol of love and marriage and has been traditionally given to a young bride.

Apples of Gold has a variety of pearl bracelets, pearl necklaces, pearl rings, pearl earrings, and pearl strands made with this beautiful gem.