How to maintain your pearl necklace?
Symbol of love and femininity, the pearl is associated with Venus, goddess born from the foam of the sea. Coco Chanel, Jacky Kennedy and Grace Kelly could not do without it. Even today, it inspires many contemporary creators. Worn as a necklace, earrings or bracelet, pearls can accompany you for a lifetime, and even be passed down from generation to generation. There is, however, one condition: to take care of and maintain them properly.
Caring for pearls
Unlike other gemstones, pearls are organic gems. Delicate, they can deteriorate and crack more easily. Detergents and other chemical agents should therefore be avoided, as they damage the pearl and make it lose its shine. For effective maintenance, a soft fabric or buckskin is sufficient.
Pearls need their own space! Consider storing them in a case, separate from other jewelry, or neatly wrapped in tissue paper or fabric. It is not recommended to store them in a jewelry box as the glues used can alter the beads.
Pearl necklaces, quite an art
According to jewelry tradition, pearl necklaces are mounted on a silk thread. So that the pearls do not touch each other and thus do not damage each other, they are separated by a knot which gives flexibility and fluidity to the jewel. However, these knots can loosen and the silk thread will wear out and get dirty over time. A pearl necklace should never be put in the shower or in the ocean, as the wet thread deteriorates the pearl inside.
Rethreading an old-fashioned collar requires expert know-how. This technique of hand knotting requires dexterity and regularity. Our experts will show you the different stages.
The material required includes a grooved tray for pearls, different spools of heather silk thread, several fine needles of different sizes, sewing scissors, tweezers as well as silver and golden cannetilla threads.
1 - For safety, first make sure that the sink stopper is closed. The collar is then cleaned with running water and soap, then rinsed and wiped gently.
2 - Carefully remove the beads by cutting the thread and place them on the tray, keeping them in the same order of assembly.
3 - We prepare a wire 4 times the length of the necklace, which will be folded in half and tied at the end.
4 - For the first 4 beads, split this thread before sliding them to the knot, leaving 2 cm free which will allow the thread to be threaded.
5 - Then, we thread all the pearls, making a knot between each gem. The tweezers gently slide the knot as close as possible to the pearl.
6 - For the last 4 beads, apply the same technique as for the first 4, in order to fix the clasp.
Like new, your necklace accompanies you again in your daily life and your evenings!
A pearl necklace is the finishing touch to an outfit. To avoid contact with lotions, perfume or hairspray, put it on last. Preferably, wear it on clothing, and occasionally next to the skin.
Do you want to change the style of your necklace? It is entirely possible to rethink it entirely. By wrapping the pearls differently, you can give it a new look. Discuss it with our experts!
The value of pearls
Pearls have extremely varied values. In the box of our grandmothers, we can still find fine pearls. However, only proper expertise can certify their value.
Do not hesitate to contact our gemologists for more information: info@geminfinity.com