How to care for Pearl Necklace - please advise

Wear them often; natural body oils are good for them.

OMC, 20 years... I'd restring! On my wedding day, my Dad gave me a three-strand Mikimoto bracelet that had been my mother's. The bracelet had remained, unused, in a dark box for almost 20 years. Prior to that, my mother had worn it just a handful of times. Anyway, minutes before my walking down the aisle, the bracelet broke. Luckily, the knots saved everything and we were ale to find the one wayward pearl.

Reminds me, I STILL need to have it restrung. To this day, I've never worn the bracelet.

This is really interesting.  I had no idea about wearing the pearls more being better for them.  I have a set myself I wore at my wedding.  It isn't a string, but on a WG chain there are three together in clusters like this oOo.  I think there are 5 clusters (imagine done similar to DBTY necklaces just with pearls).  I wear them with pearls on illusion wire and swarovski crystal earrings.  I always worry about damaging the pearls, but maybe I'll wear them more just to keep them 'shiny'

Be careful not to dip pearls in water or wear them while bathing, as water can weaken the silk thread. Do not leave them in direct sunlight or expose them to high temperatures. If pearls happen to come into contact with substances such as vinegar, fruit juices or detergents, immediately wipe that substance off.

i didn't know that either. I have a double strand of pearls that i got when working at a mall jewelry store. not the nicest quality, but okay. last time I wore them I noticed the thread looked dirty. I never thought about restringing before. maybe silk darkens over time? or it was the black velvet box it was in? or maybe I just need to bath more often? 

Water does nothing at all to pearls. After all, they grew in the water...

The problem is the silk used for stringing; if it doesn't dry quickly, it can rot, and as you can imagine it's easy for the part of string that is inside the pearl not to dry completely for a looong time. The silk can look dirty for a number of reasons, not least that silk tends to stain when it's wet; restringing is not expensive.

Incidentally - while I share the advice on fruit juice and vinegar (acidic substances that can dissolve the aragonite in the pearl), the advice about detergents is vague. Washing up liquid is just fine; products containing bleach, enzymes or other oxidizersu (powder detergent for washing machine and the like) may affect the colour, and acidic products (limescale remover) are dangerous.

@oldmancoyote

That's a helpful tips. It is  also important if you keep your jewelry in a safe jewelry box after you use.

Well I have to say thanks to this thread I did dig out my pearls (not literally).  I decided I need to wear them more often because people really liked them a lot.

what DBL clasp? 

The best way to clean a pearl necklace is prevention, but sometimes you must clean the necklace. With care, a pearl necklace can enhance the beauty of its wearer for many years. The task of cleaning pearls should occur after each wearing. The wearer should purchase a cloth used exclusively for cleaning pearls.

...as long as the pearls aren't strung...

pooh, i thought i was so clever because i've been cleaning my strand pearl necklaces with baby shampoo and warm sudsy  water.  they're pretty long and i've spilled food and stuff on them, they look GREAT after i clean them, but i suppose the silk issue makes my way a no-no huh? 

1. Follow this little piece of advice I received from the jeweler who sold me my pearls: when dressing, pearls are the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off.


2. Protect them from products. Spritz on any hair and or body sprays before you put on your pearl necklace.


3. Wipe them off. When you take off your pearl necklace, use a soft cloth to gently wipe away the body oils that can build up, causing your pearls' shine to dull.


4. Wear them often. The luster of your pearl necklace will only get more beautiful with repeated wear.


5. Store them carefully. Keep your pearls in a lined jewelry box away from other jewelry such as gemstones, which can scratch a pearl's delicate surface.