Pearl Care Guides

Pearls are the only major gem grown by a living animal, and that origin defines how you care for them. Nacre is built from aragonite — a form of calcium carbonate — bound with conchiolin, an organic protein. It measures only 2.5 to 4.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, which means everyday materials like metal clasps, other gemstones and even hard plastics can scratch it. Worse, calcium carbonate reacts with acids: perfume, hairspray, cosmetics, sweat and household cleaners can dull a pearl’s luster permanently if they sit on the surface.

The core rules are simple and have not changed in a hundred years. Pearls go on last and come off first — after the perfume has dried, before you wash your hands with anything harsher than water. After wearing, wipe them with a soft, slightly damp cloth to remove skin oils and residues. Store them flat, separately from other jewelry, in a soft pouch — never in a sealed plastic bag, because nacre contains a small amount of water and benefits from ambient humidity; pearls stored in dry, airtight conditions for years can dehydrate and lose luster. Strands worn regularly should be restrung periodically, with knots between pearls so they cannot grind against each other.

None of this is difficult, but the details matter — which cleaning methods are safe, what to do about pearls that have already yellowed, how mounted pearls differ from strands, and how often “regularly worn” strands really need restringing. The guides below collect our full library of pearl care advice, from the universal rules to Tahitian-specific guidance, so the pearls you buy once stay beautiful for decades and pass to the next generation in good condition.

Pearl care guides

Caring for pearls starts with buying good nacre: thick-nacre Tahitian and South Sea pearls tolerate decades of wear that thin-coated pearls cannot.