How Do You Care For Pearls

Pearl necklaces are the epitome of elegance- a traditional and timeless beauty that may even have passed from generation to generation. They are the perfect finishing touch to a wedding ensemble…or any outfit for that matter.

Whether they are worn frequently or saved for special occasions, it’s important to care for your pearls. Did you know a crucial part of pearl maintenance is in fact the string itself?

If you’re like us, you may have a movie memory of a pearl necklace being ripped from a woman’s neck, the delicate pearls scattering in all varying directions. We couldn’t tell you the movie, it’s probably actually in many, but the image is iconic.  Would you believe, this isn’t too far from reality.

We think whoever it is, wasn’t looking after their pearls properly, and their string was too weak to be worn.

More commonly strung on silk to complement the natural heritage of the pearl itself, the material is prone to stretching, gathering dirt and eventually loosening. Some pearls are now strung on nylon which has a similar look to silk and is more robust. This, however, isn’t exempt from natural stretching. On either material, as this happens you are putting your pearls at risk where the string could snap, and off your pearls would go in the stereotypical scatter and roll.

Don’t despair though, this isn’t too tricky to spot and fix!

When looking over your own necklace, you might spot fraying around the clasp, or appear to have a lot of excess string with movement amongst the pearls. Pearls should appear to be secure, really close together. Although, delicate knots are in fact created in between each individual one. This separation technique is the other important element of string maintenance. It is enough to protect them but not too large that it impacts their beautiful aesthetic. Without it, over time, pearls that are directly next to one another can rub, eventually grinding down and losing their distinguished shine. With the fraying, and stretch in the string, and the compromised knots, there’s a chance your pearls aren’t as protected as they could be.

When it comes to maintaining yours, it is worth having them checked by a trained professional who will help decide if it needs re-stringing. We can do that! If they need some TLC,  we’ll carefully snip the string, remove each pearl and place them on a beading tray used specifically for graduated or patterned necklaces. With a knot to secure them and knots in between, we hand-thread each one of the pearls and secure them with a protective metal coil, that attaches to the clasp.

It’s a straightforward and essential process that will have your pearls looking as good as new.

At Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery, we are experts in pearls and re-stringing and are always happy to have a look over your precious jewellery.  Then, depending on how many pearls you have, we can either restring it to its original form or update the design to match your style. Our expert stringers can guide you on design changes. For example, making a necklace a bracelet or set of earrings, or updating the look with different coloured threads and precious gemstones, that complement the tones of the pearls.

The options are endless!

If you have any questions about your pearls we recommend getting in touch for more information. Our pearl stringing experts Dani, Kirsty and Abi are based across all of our studios and shops.