Pearl Jewelry Care

There are a few simple rules of pearl care.

• Pearls should always be the last item on and the first item off when dressing.
• Keep dirt and chemicals, such as make up, hairspray, and Perfume’s.
• Strands of pearls are strung together with high quality silk and should NEVER be soaked in fluid. See Cleaning Tips for specifics on how to clean pearls.
• If you wear your pearls regularly, they should be restrung at least once a year.

Types of Pearls

• Imitation: coated glass beads.
• Cultured: grown in pearl farms.
• Freshwater: grown in lakes and rivers in China.
• South Sea: grown in Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines.
• Akoya: A saltwater pearl from the Akoya oyster.
• Tahitian: grown in several island of the French Polynesia including Tahiti.

Lengths of Pearl Necklaces

• Collar: fits directly against the throat.
• Chocker: rests at the base of the neck.
• Princess: rests near the collarbone.
• Matinee: 20-24 inches long.
• Opera: 30 to 36 inches long.
• Rope: a strand longer than 36 inches.