The Pearl Ritual

How to keep your pearls beautiful.

Real freshwater pearls are a little bit alive — soft, porous, and happiest when they're worn. Here's everything worth knowing, in about two minutes.

The one rule that matters most

Last on, first off. Put your pearls on after your perfume, hairspray, lotion, and makeup have settled. Take them off before you wash your face, shower, swim, or sleep. Nearly every pearl problem we ever see comes down to this one habit.

Cleaning, the safe way

1. Wipe after every wear.A soft, dry cloth along each pearl takes off the day's oils and residue. This alone does ninety percent of the work.
2. For a deeper clean, go gentle.Dampen a soft cloth with lukewarm water and the smallest drop of mild soap. Wipe the pearls, then wipe again with a clean damp cloth.
3. Never soak a strand.Water travels into the silk thread, weakens it, and can discolor the knots. Wipe, never submerge.
4. Let it dry flat.Lay the piece on a towel and give it a few hours before storing. Hanging a damp strand stretches the silk.

Storing them

Keep pearls flat in a soft pouch or a lined box, away from harder pieces that can scratch the surface. Avoid airtight plastic for long stretches — pearls hold a small amount of moisture and need a little air. If you haven't worn a strand in months, take it out and wear it for an evening. Pearls genuinely do better with use.

When to have it restrung

Knotted strands worn regularly want restringing roughly every one to two years. The signs: the thread looks grey or fuzzy between pearls, gaps have opened up, or the strand has grown noticeably longer. If your piece is registered, restringing is covered by your one-year warranty — just email us.