Unlike diamonds, pearls are not stones; they are organic gemstones cultivated by oysters. Their surface has microscopic pores invisible to the naked eye, meaning they breathe and can be damaged – perfumes, sweat, and chemical components in cosmetics can slowly seep in, causing pearls to lose their luster or even turn yellow. Sounds scary? It's not, as long as you remember one rule: pearls are always the last to put on and the first to take off.
This means you should put on your pearl necklace last, after you've applied your makeup, sprayed your perfume, and gotten dressed. When you get home, take off your pearls before removing your makeup or showering. Also, never wear pearls when exercising, bathing, or cooking – sweat, hot water, and cooking fumes are invisible killers for pearls. If they do get sweaty, simply wipe them dry with a soft cloth; do not rinse them with water or soak them, because moisture trapped in the pearl's pores cannot escape, and over time, it can cause the pearls to deteriorate or mold.
When not wearing them, store pearls in a separate velvet pouch, allowing them to rest comfortably without being crowded with other jewelry – pearls are not very hard and can easily be scratched if stored with silver chains or diamonds. For cleaning, gently wipe with a soft cloth dampened with a little diluted soapy water, then blot dry with a clean cloth. Finally, one more reminder: never clean pearls using a machine, as that can directly cause cracks in the pearls. Seriously, no joke.
