Tahitian pearls are tougher than people fear and more fragile than they assume. The nacre on a cultured Pinctada margaritifera pearl sits at roughly 2.5–3 on the Mohs scale — softer than glass, softer than almost everything else in your jewelry box. Treat them with a few simple habits and they hold their luster for decades. Here is what to do and what to avoid, the way we tell every customer who buys a strand.

What harms a pearl — at a glance

The Dos

1. Store Properly

Keep pearls in a soft pouch or a fabric-lined compartment of their own. Diamonds, hard gemstones and metal clasps will scratch nacre on contact, so they should never share a space. Lay necklaces flat rather than hanging them — over time, hanging stretches the silk and weakens the knots.

2. Clean with Care

After each wear, wipe the pearls with a soft cloth lightly dampened with plain water to lift skin oils and residue. For a deeper clean, use a cloth with the tiniest amount of mild soap, then wipe again with clean water. Skip vinegar, ammonia and anything abrasive — they eat into nacre and there is no undoing it. Lay the pearls flat to dry; never hang them wet.

3. Wear Them Last

The single most useful habit: put your pearls on after makeup, lotion, hairspray and perfume, and give those products a few minutes to dry. The acids and alcohols in cosmetics are the most common cause of dulled pearls we see, and this one step prevents nearly all of it.

4. Restring Regularly

If you wear a knotted strand often, have it restrung by a jeweler every couple of years. Silk thread absorbs oils and grit and eventually weakens; restringing on fresh silk, knotted between each pearl, keeps the strand from breaking and stops pearls scattering if it ever does.

5. Protect from Chemicals

Chlorine, bleach and household cleaners are nacre's worst enemies. Take your pearls off before cleaning the house, gardening or swimming. Pool chlorine in particular will haze the surface permanently, and no polishing brings it back.

6. Ask a Pearl Specialist

If you are ever unsure — a loose clasp, a pearl that has lost its glow, a strand that needs work — take it to a jeweler who handles pearls specifically. Pearl care differs from caring for hard stones, and someone who works with nacre daily will steer you right.

The Don'ts

1. Don't Store Improperly

Keep pearls out of direct sun and away from very dry or very humid spots. Long-term dryness can cause nacre to dehydrate and craze; excess humidity invites trouble too. A cool, stable drawer is ideal — and skip airtight plastic, which can trap moisture against the surface.

2. Don't Clean Roughly

No toothbrushes, no scouring cloths, no jewelry-cleaning dips. Anything abrasive leaves fine scratches that scatter light and flatten the luster. A soft cloth is the only tool a pearl needs.

3. Don't Expose to Heat

Keep pearls away from hairdryers, radiators and long stretches of direct sun. Heat drives moisture out of the nacre, and a dried-out pearl loses its glow and can crack. Store them somewhere cool and dry.

4. Don't Ignore Wear and Tear

Check your pearls now and then. A loose clasp or a worn thread is cheap to fix and expensive to ignore — a snapped strand can send pearls down a drain. If a setting feels loose or the silk looks grimy, deal with it before the next wear.

5. Don't Neglect Cleaning

Skipping the after-wear wipe lets oils and dust build into a film that quietly dulls the surface. The fix is a thirty-second habit: a soft cloth after each wearing keeps the luster where it should be.

A Lasting Luster

None of this is complicated — put them on last, wipe them down, store them apart, keep them away from chemicals and heat. Do that and your Tahitian pearls from French Polynesia will look as deep and alive in twenty years as the day you bought them. Good pearls reward good habits.

Common questions about caring for Tahitian pearls

How do I clean Tahitian pearls?

Wipe gently with a soft cloth slightly dampened with water. For a deeper clean, use a cloth dampened with a tiny amount of mild dish soap, then wipe with clean water. Never submerge pearls or use ultrasonic cleaners, and lay them flat to dry — never hang them wet.

Can I shower or swim with Tahitian pearls?

No. Pool chlorine, salt water and hot shower water all damage nacre over time. Remove pearls before showering, swimming or any water activity. Even sweat builds up an acidic residue that dulls luster, so wipe them after wearing.

How do I store Tahitian pearls?

Store them flat in a soft pouch or fabric-lined box, separated from harder jewelry that could scratch. Avoid airtight plastic bags, which can trap moisture against the surface, and never hang pearl necklaces long-term — gravity stretches the silk thread.

How often should I restring a pearl necklace?

Every two to three years for a daily-wear necklace, every five to seven for occasional pieces. Restring sooner if the silk looks soiled, the pearls click or roll, or the knots have loosened.

What should I keep away from my pearls?

Perfume, hairspray, lotion, sunscreen, makeup, household cleaners, ultrasonic devices and harsh metals. Apply perfume and lotion before putting pearls on, give them a few minutes to absorb, and wipe the pearls with a soft cloth after each wearing.