Pearl jewellery is one of the most versatile items in a collection and is classicly flawless. It entices with its radiant aura and alluring lustre. Therefore, treating a pearl with care is vital to ensure its integrity remains and its colour doesn't fade or discolour.

The hope is that jewellery can be admired forever, even inherited as an exquisite keepsake. This is your step-by-step guide to ensure your prized heirloom makes it to those destined to cherish it with maximal lustre and minimal blemishes.

How to clean your pearl

Pearls are porous, natural jewels, so they require more careful handling than a diamond. When cleaning a pearl, it is crucial to adopt the method of less is more;

1. Gently wipe cultured pearls with a slightly damp cloth using lukewarm water either after wear or periodically. No added chemical or detergent is required.
2. Allow the pearls to air dry completely on a soft towel. By doing this, it preserves the elasticity of the silk thread.
3. Store them flat in a soft pouch or jewellery box. You could also place the pearls in a soft cloth or linen.
4. Ensure that the pearls cannot rub together or against another piece of jewellery and that they are not in an airtight plastic package; this could cause the pearl to crack.

How to care for pearl strands

Nina's cultured pearls are strung on pure silk. Over time, the silk will stretch, weaken and become soiled. If you wear your pearls regularly, we encourage you to have them cleaned and restrung annually.

What to avoid when caring for pearls

Cultured pearls should be free of perfumes, cosmetics, perspiration and dirt. A pearl could react badly to any chemicals resulting in a loss of colour.

You should also remove your pearl jewellery before bathing, swimming and doing the dishes. Under no circumstance should you submerge your pearls in any body of water! The chlorine in the water will eat away at the epoxy securing the pearls to their mountings, weakening the silk thread and potentially causing it to break. 

It is also important to avoid jewellery cleaners unless it specifies that the product can be used on pearls.

We invite you to bring your jewellery to the Ninas Dunsborough store, as we offer a complimentary cleaning service. Browse our extensive pearl collection and leave with your luminous and refreshed jewellery. 

Explore Nina's pearl guide for more information on pearls or Ninas caring for jewellery & cleaning diamond rings blog.