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Pearls are one of my favorite gemstones to work with and to wear! Whether it’s a traditional round white pearl necklace, or a an avant gard baroque pearl cocktail ring, consider adding pearls to your jewelry wardrobe. Modernize them by layering pearl necklaces with gold and silver chunky chains, or mixing varying sized pearls and shapes. However you wear them, be aware that pearls are soft and need a little TLC.
But before we dive into these important pearl care tips, it's important to understand
how pearls are formed and where they are cultivated.
Pearl Formation
Pearls are formed when an irritant is introduced into an oyster or mussel and coats the irritant with calcium carbonate called nacre. The nacre is deposited in concentric layers and builds up over time.
Freshwater pearls are formed in mussels in lakes and ponds and can take 12-24 months to grow. Mostly farmed commercially in China with the Hyriopsis cumingi (triangle shell) and Hyriopsis schlegeli (Biwa shell). You can also find freshwater pearls in Japan in riverbeds and creek bottoms such as Biwa Pearls and Lake Kasumigaura pearls as well as in the United States with Mississippi River Basin Pearls that are formed naturally and not cultured.
Saltwater pearls like Tahitian, South Sea, or Akoya pearls form in saltwater mollusks.
Tahitian pearls are formed in large black tipped oysters known as Pinctada Margaritifera in salt water locations and can take up to 5 years to grow.
One of my favorite pearls are keshi pearls. Keshi pearls form around a piece of clam tissue that is inserted into the oyster and the nacre forms amorphously surrounding the irritant resulting in free form shapes.
Pearl Care Tips
Follow these simple tips to keep your pearls looking new for years to come!
✨Never shower or swim with a strand of pearls because it can stretch the silk thread.
✨Pearls are not tough and careless poor handling can damage them. Therefore, they should be strung with silk knots in between each pearl to prevent rubbing and damaging the nacre. Heirloom pearl necklace and bracelets need to be re-strung from time-to-time to keep the necklace tight and prevent it from breaking.
✨If you notice the thread is stretched out, have it re-strung by a professional. Contact me to re-string your pearls and make them new again.
✨Pearls are porous and require only a wipe with a soft clean cloth after each wearing.
✨Allow perfumes and lotions to dry before wearing.
✨Never clean ultrasonically or with steam or ammonia.
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