As mentioned, pearls are ranked 2.5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale which means that a pearl is considered a soft gem and can easily be scratched. But with adequate care, pearl jewelry can last for a lifetime and be passed down through generations. The good news is that special care is not hard to do.
Worn often and properly cared for, pearls can look as good in 50 years as they did the day they left the store. Pearls are not the most durable of gems. Most everyday items at home and in the office are tougher than pearls, so careless contact can cause damage them over time.
Pearls contain organic substance, which can dry out and decay, which is why pearls have their certain life span, after which pearls start to grow dim, exfoliate and are finally destructed. This means special attention is required to ensure pearls will stay beautiful and last for hundreds of years.
When should you not wear pearls? Pearls are soft and are highly susceptible to damage, therefore they should be worn with care. Avoid wearing pearl bracelets and rings everyday as they can easily get scratched. Remove them before taking a shower, cleaning or using cosmetic products.
Pearls with particular brand names will also retain (and even increase) their value over the years; vintage Mikimoto Akoya pearls that still have their original clasp, box and papers to establish provenance are very highly sought after today and continue to fetch premium resale values.
High-Quality Pearls are a Wearable investment
While you might think that gold and silver is an obvious choice when buying investment jewelry, pearls are an excellent alternative. In recent years auction houses such as Christie's have sold pearl jewelry far exceeding the value of other gemstones.
Pearl jewellery and pearls are not traded like gold or silver. They are considered elite gemstones and do not have a high resale value, at least as of now. Used pearl jewellery, which is sold for higher prices, is usually that which has been worn by celebrities, queens or antique pieces.
Wetting pearls is never a good idea, as it begins to destroy the jewel. Pearl necklaces are damaged when they get wet, because the water damages both the thread and the pearl . When wet, the thread that holds the beads together begins to stretch and lengthen, so it quickly loses the desired shape.
Astrology says that the people whose zodiac signs lords are Mercury, Venus, Saturn and Rahu should never wear pearls. Pearls harm the natives of these zodiac signs. This means that people of Taurus, Gemini, Virgo, Capricorn and Aquarius ascendant should not wear pearls.
This being so, a pearl's lustrous surface can easily be affected by any chemicals, oils, soaps, shampoos, cosmetics, and alkaline environments. As a strict guideline, you should never shower with your pearls on and always wipe them gently after wearing with a soft cloth.
It's often assumed that because something's old it must be valuable. That's rarely true and certainly not for pearls. Advances in technology and culturing techniques mean you can buy a much better set of pearls for far less money than in grandma's time.
Did you know that pearls can change colors? It's something that can happen over time. White pearls slowly turn yellow as they age. Many people don't understand how this happens, or how to prevent it.
If your pearls are visibly stained, you can mix a solution of lukewarm water and mild dish soap, dip a soft cleaning cloth in it and wipe the pearls. Do NOT submerge a pearl necklace in water, as it will weaken the silk thread. 3. Let them dry all the way before storing.
The qualities that determine the overall value of a natural or cultured pearl or a piece of pearl jewelry are size, shape, color, luster, surface quality, nacre quality, and—for jewelry with two or more pearls—matching.
Natural pearls are actually very rare, mostly because pearl-producing species of mollusks were nearly hunted to extinction with most natural beds of pearl-bearing oysters depleted by over-harvesting in the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, natural pearls are extremely rare.
The process of producing a pearl can range from 6 months to several years. Even before this, it takes about 3 years for the mollusk to reach a mature age in order to produce a pearl. A mollusk is only able to begin the pearl making process naturally or with the help of humans when it reaches this mature age.
The etiquette on wearing a pearl necklace during the day, traditionally, is to wear a single pearl stand with a blouse. Over the years, as with so many things, the rules have gone out the window and pearls are no exception! The joy of owning pearl necklaces is that they really do with everything, on every occassion.
(vulgar, slang) A sexual act whereby semen is ejaculated onto a partner's upper chest, breasts and/or throat. quotations ▼
Cosmetics, sun block, perfume and hairspray all contain chemicals that can dramatically dull the luster of a pearl. The natural acids contained in body oils and perspiration can also damage pearls in the same way.
First things first – Remove those pearls.
She suggests to remove pearl jewelry from the hand-sanitizing process entirely. Sanitized skin should not come into contact with your pearls until completely dry and evaporated—wait about five minutes before putting on your pearls.
Cultured pearls can benefit from a very light coating of baby oil to promote their shine and luster. Just add a small drop onto a cloth and apply gently. Otherwise, treat them exactly as you would natural pearls. Your pearl jewelry needs looking after, and yet doing so is easy.
Gold Pearls
One of the largest and rarest pearls found around the world is Gold in color. They are Golden South Sea pearls, cultured in the Philippine Islands. Golden South Sea pearls have only been available to pearl lovers since the late 1970s, and are known as the “Rolls Royce” of cultured pearls.
Diamonds can often come at a higher price than pearls.
Cultured pearls became very affordable, messing with the pearl market for years on end. Natural pearls are still worth much more, but they're not really worth more than a diamond nowadays.