Cleaning Your Pearls is important, Firstly, the best way to keep your pearls shining with their natural luster is to clean them with a soft cloth. You should moisten the cloth with water, but never use any type of detergent when cleaning pearls. Pearls are very quick to absorb things like dirt, perfume, and skin oils because they’re so soft. It’s a good idea to clean your pearls after you’ve worn them to stop the pearls from absorbing any dirt or grime.

How To Store Pearls. Pearls prefer being stored at moderate temperatures, and can be damaged or lose their sheen if exposed regularly to extreme temperatures. So the glove box of the car is definitely not a place for your pearls on a hot day! Don’t store them in a place that might get cold or damp, either, like an attic.

Being so soft, pearls scratch very easily, so store them in a box lined with something soft. Or at least wrap them in a soft cloth before you put them away. Most other gemstones, like diamonds, are much harder than pearls, and can give them a nasty scratch if they’re jostled together. If you have to put them in the same box, the pearls must be wrapped up to protect them.

Keep chemicals away from pearls, or they will get damaged. Chemicals can erode the pearl’s lustrous surface, leaving them dull. So avoid any alcohol based cleaning fluids, or anything with vinegar. It’s a good idea to put your pearls on just before you leave, so that you don’t accidentally get any makeup or hairspray on them. Both of these can stain or damage your pearls.

As an extra precaution, it might be worth getting your pearl jewelry restrung every year or two. Pearls are often strung on silk thread, and this weakens over time. If you wear your pearls a lot, the constant movement of the pearls can also damage the silk. Although pearls require some care to keep them at their best, it’s definitely worth the effort.

Eastern cultures believe that pearls symbolize purity and spiritual transformation. Simply wearing a pearl reminds the wearer to be honest, pure, wise, and to walk with the utmost dignity. Different colors of pearls bear different meanings. As expected, white pearls symbolize purity, innocence, faith, and honesty. Gold or black pearls symbolize prosperity and riches. Rose or pink pearls work well with the heart Chakra, while all pearls work with the solar plexus Chakra, beneficial for digestion and immunity.

Just like other gemstones, pearls are given to a single month as a birthstone. June is the month of the pearl and many women and men born in the month of June proudly display their pearls to honor this fact. The birthstone chart was first established in the 16th Century, when it was believed fair favor and good luck would fall upon the wearer of their birthstone.

In Christianity, St. Augustine deemed the pearl to be a symbol of Jesus Christ, after evaluating a passage of Biblical text that gives each of the twelve apostles a specific gemstone in their honor. There are actually several passages in the Bible that refer to pearls, the most well known one an allegory about the “pearly gates” of heaven and “casting pearls before swine.”

The Japanese have always held pearls in high esteem, and often associate good luck to those to wear the round beauties. It should be noted that the Japanese only hold meaning for the salt water variety of the pearl, since the round salt water pearls are native to the archipelago chain and have made the island native quite popular due to the innovations of pearl harvesting companies like Mikimoto.

Pearls have been the most popular accessories with bridal wear historically and still continue to be a strong favorite today. The innocence and beauty symbolized by the pearl is also symbolized by the bride, so the match is perfect. From the traditional princess length pearl necklace to a stunning pendant, earrings, or bracelet mixing pearls with other precious gemstones, pearls are a fast favorite for weddings. Even many bridal gowns, veils, and headpieces are adorned with pearls to create a stunningly elegant effect.