How to Care for Pearl Jewellery
A Simple Guide to Keeping Your Pearls Beautiful
Pearls are made to be worn, enjoyed and made part of your everyday style. But their natural beauty also means they deserve a little extra care.
Unlike many other gemstones, pearls are organic gems. Their surface is relatively soft and can be sensitive to scratches, chemicals, cosmetics and excessive heat. The good news? Caring for pearl jewellery doesn’t have to be complicated.
Three simple habits can already make a difference:
Put your pearls on last. Take them off first. Wipe them gently after wearing.
Here’s how to care for your pearl jewellery and help preserve its natural lustre over time.
Why Do Pearls Need Special Care?
Pearls may look effortlessly elegant, but their structure is quite different from that of diamonds, sapphires or other gemstones.
A pearl is formed inside a living mollusc through layers of nacre. This gives each pearl its characteristic lustre, but also makes its surface relatively delicate. Pearls rank around 2.5–3 on the Mohs hardness scale, which means they can be scratched more easily than many traditional gemstones.
They can also be affected by chemicals found in everyday products such as perfume, hairspray and cosmetics.
That doesn’t mean your pearls should spend their lives hidden away in a jewellery box. It simply means that a few small habits can help keep them looking their best.
Everyday Pearl Care: Last On, First Off
If there is one pearl care rule worth remembering, it’s this:
Last on, first off.
When getting ready, apply your skincare, makeup, perfume and hairspray before putting on your pearl jewellery. Give the products a moment to dry, then add your pearls as the finishing touch.
At the end of the day, do the opposite: take your pearl jewellery off before changing clothes, removing makeup or starting your evening skincare routine.
This helps reduce contact with cosmetics and chemicals that can affect the surface and lustre of your pearls over time.
And after wearing them? A gentle wipe with a soft cloth is usually all they need for everyday care.
How to Clean Pearl Jewellery at Home
Pearls don’t need aggressive cleaning products to stay beautiful. In fact, gentle is better.
1. Use a clean, soft cloth.
2. If needed, slightly dampen it with water.
3. Gently wipe each pearl to remove traces of makeup, perspiration or everyday residue.
4. Allow the jewellery to dry naturally before storing it.
Avoid harsh chemicals, bleach and abrasive products. You should also avoid ultrasonic cleaners: while they can be suitable for some jewellery, they are not recommended for pearls.
For Lieves jewellery in particular, it is also important to consider the whole piece, not only the pearl. Plating, settings and other materials may have their own care requirements, so when in doubt, follow the care instructions provided for your jewellery.
Can Pearls Get Wet?
This is one of those questions where the answer needs a little nuance.
A small amount of water is not the same as soaking your pearl jewellery. A slightly damp cloth can be used for gentle cleaning, but that doesn’t mean pearls should be worn in the shower, pool or sea.
At Lieves, we recommend removing your jewellery before showering, swimming or exercising.
Why?
Because it isn’t only about water. Showering can expose jewellery to soap and shampoo, swimming pools contain chlorine, seawater contains salt, and exercise brings prolonged contact with perspiration.
So enjoy your pearls by the water — just take them off before jumping in.
How to Store Pearl Jewellery
How you store your pearls matters almost as much as how you wear them.
Because pearls are relatively soft, harder gemstones and metals can scratch their surface when jewellery pieces rub against each other.
The simplest solution is to store pearl jewellery separately, ideally in a soft pouch or a lined jewellery box.
Try to keep your jewellery somewhere cool and dry, away from excessive heat, direct sunlight and extreme humidity.
And resist the temptation to throw everything into the same jewellery box at the end of the day. Your pearls will thank you for the extra few seconds.
What Should You Avoid When Wearing Pearls?
Pearl care is mostly about preventing unnecessary exposure to things that can damage the pearl or the jewellery around it.
As a simple rule, try to keep your pearl jewellery away from:
· Perfume and hairspray: apply them before putting your jewellery on.
· Creams, lotions and cosmetics: let them absorb or dry first.
· Showers and baths: remove your jewellery beforehand.
· Chlorinated and salt water: leave your pearls somewhere safe before swimming.
· Workouts: perspiration and repeated movement can affect jewellery over time.
· Household cleaning products: remove your jewellery before cleaning.
· Abrasive cleaners and polishing products: gentle cleaning is enough.
· Ultrasonic cleaners: these are not suitable for pearls.
And if your Lieves piece is gold-plated, we recommend removing it before sleeping too.
Can You Wear Pearls Every Day?
Absolutely — pearls don’t have to be saved for special occasions.
With a little care, pearl jewellery can easily become part of your everyday wardrobe.
Earrings and necklaces are particularly easy to incorporate into daily outfits, while rings naturally tend to experience more contact, knocks and friction and may therefore need a little more attention.
If you’re looking for inspiration on taking pearls beyond traditional occasion wear, our article “Back to Work Pearls: How to Wear Pearls at Work”
explores how to make them part of a modern everyday wardrobe.
The important thing is not to avoid wearing your pearls. It’s simply to remember that the more often you wear a piece, the more important those small care habits become.
A Little Care Goes a Long Way
Pearls don’t need to spend their lives inside a jewellery box.
They are meant to be worn, styled and made part of your story. And caring for them doesn’t require an elaborate routine: putting them on last, taking them off first, wiping them gently and storing them properly can already go a long way towards preserving their natural beauty.
So wear your pearls. Enjoy them. Style them your way.
– And if you’re looking for new ideas, discover “How to Style Pearls” for inspiration on bringing pearl jewellery into your own personal style.
A little care is all it takes to help the pieces you love stay with you for longer.
FAQs About Pearl Jewellery Care
Can you shower with pearl jewellery?
It’s better not to. Showering exposes pearl jewellery to water, soap, shampoo and other products that may affect the pearls or other materials in the piece. Remove your jewellery before showering.
Can you wear perfume with pearls?
Yes — just apply perfume before putting on your pearl jewellery and allow it to dry first. This helps minimise direct contact between the pearl surface and the alcohol or other ingredients in the fragrance.
How often should you clean pearls?
For everyday care, gently wiping your pearls with a soft cloth after wearing them is a simple habit that can help remove perspiration and residue. More thorough cleaning should only be done when needed and always using methods appropriate for pearls and the other materials in the jewellery.
Can you use an ultrasonic cleaner on pearls?
No. Ultrasonic cleaners are are not recommended for pearls. Their delicate structure requires gentler cleaning methods.
Article written by Silvia Impagliatelli
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