Unfortunately, because pearls are delicately formed layers of calcium, they can flake if they're damaged. To prevent your precious pearls from peeling, keep them away from harsh chemicals or cosmetics and don't allow the pearls to rub against each other.
Coating: Pearls can also be coated with a clear, lustrous coating to improve the luster of the pearl. This improvement is temporary as the coating can peel off over time, exposing the inferior luster underneath.
Real pearls typically have a thicker and more lustrous nacre coating compared to imitation pearls. 5) Color Variation: Real pearls often exhibit subtle variations in color, known as overtones. These color variations add to the natural beauty and uniqueness of each pearl.
*Pearls deteriorate over time, and even with proper care, the smaller ones generally last 150 to 200 years (depending on the thickness of that nacre)... but in 2012, scientists found a single pearl in a gravesite overseas, that was dated at 7500 years old.
Do pearls lose their luster or become dull? It's possible that pearls can lose their shimmer and shine over time, but you can prevent it from happening by learning how to clean your cultured pearl necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings.
Nacre quality: Luster and nacre quality are closely related. If the nucleus is visible under the nacre, or if the pearl has a dull, chalky appearance, you can assume that the nacre is thin. This affects the luster as well as the durability of the pearl.
Pearls are organic gemstones that are vulnerable to acid, alkaline and extremes of humidity. To preserve your pearls' radiance, avoid letting them come into contact with cosmetics, hair spray, or perfume. Always put on your jewelry as a final touch, after applying make-up and styling hair.
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.
After all, pearls have a predicted lifespan of from one hundred and fifty to two hundred years if cared-for properly. All pearls, whether natural or cultured, anorganic, which means that they were composed by a living organism. "That is the very essence of the warmth and softness of their glow".
It's pretty much impossible to tell the difference between a natural and cultured pearl by just looking at its outer appearance. The only way to make absolute certain whether a pearl is natural or not is to perform an x-ray of the internal structure of the pearl.
The gem has to be protected from heating and open fire (due to the fact that pearls contain 2% of water, they can crack and loose their luster). Keep them away from acid attacks, abrasives, exhalations and cosmetics. Mostly jewelers “revive” pearls with weak solutions of hydrochloric acid or acetic acid.
Use your hands to wash them, as a scrubber of any kind may damage the nacre . However, soap must be used periodically on your pearl jewelry. Ivory flakes or a baby soap are mildest to use and can prove the best option for cleaning your pearl jewelry.
You can clean or brighten new or vintage pearls at home using a mild detergent or dish soap. If your pearls have become yellow, try whitening them or restoring their shine with acetone. Acetone will not harm pearls, but never use ammonia, vinegar, or chlorine bleach near your pearls.
Should You Wear Pearls Every Day? There's a straightforward answer to this question. It's really up to you and what you're comfortable with. If you're someone who takes very good care of their belongings and is cautious with how you handle them, then wearing your pearls every day shouldn't be a problem.
For this reason, do not expose your pearls to cosmetics and other chemicals. For example, hairspray, perfume, acid from beverages, and even human sweat can damage pearls.
After wearing your pearl, you can simply clean it with a soft cloth which may be moistened with non-chlorinated water. We advise against coating your pearl with coconut oil or olive oil, as we have seen suggested, because this would only cause dust to stick to it.
Pearls harm the natives of these zodiac signs. This means that people of Taurus, Gemini, Virgo, Capricorn and Aquarius ascendant should not wear pearls.
It is very important that you take your pearls off before going to bed or before participating in any sports. It is also important that you limit its contact with water, and remove them before showering or going to the pool. This will prevent the pearl from falling off prematurely and degrade the mother of pearl.
Wear your pearls
As with all the other jewelry, if left unworn, it will oxidize and rust. Wearing them more frequently can help preserve their attractiveness; they require exposure to air and moisture. Which will keep them from becoming yellow.
The cleaner the surface of the pearl, the more valuable it is. Look for an absence of disfiguring spots, bumps or cracks on the surface of a pearl, also known as "cleanliness." Notice that the highest quality pearls have a sharp, mirror-like reflection.
Freshwater pearls have no core and are made up entirely of mother-of-pearl – so 98% of these stones are not round but oval, buttoned, drop or baroque in shape. Freshwater pearls are cheaper because they are easier to extract, making sea pearls more valued.
The value of pearls depends on many aspects, such as: size, shape, color, luster, surface smoothness, transparency, and if you buy more – their price is also influenced by the fit and similarity of each piece.