Hi Olivia,
Despite their oft-bashed reputation in this forum filled with Freshwater pearl lovers (me included), saltwater Akoya pearls can bring their wearer plenty of years of joy and wearability. Just be careful!
Here are The Ten Commandments:
1) Only put on your pearls as the "Finishing Touch" to your outfit- this is after cosmetics, hairspray and perfumes have all been "applied and dried" pardon the pun. This ensures that your pearls' delicate surfaces come into minimal contact with these harsh chemicals that will eat away at the nacre, and speed up the aging process.
2) Everytime you're finished wearing your strand for the day, wipe it down with a soft cloth to remove any chemical residues.
3) Wear them!!! Wear them semi-often!! Akoya pearls, like all pearls, were originally born in the water and definitely do benefit from absorbing the oils that your skin naturally secretes throughout the day. So go ahead and show them you care!
4) Every once in awhile, store them in the bathroom so they can absorb moisture from the steam in the shower (don't put them in the shower, on the countertop should be fine
).
5) No swimming- chlorine damages nacre, and even if it's just earrings you happen to be wearing, the chemicals in the water can loosen the adhesive holding pearl to post.
6) Restring every two years- once a year if you're an every day devotee.
7) Store them wrapped in a soft cloth/jewelry pouch to keep them from getting scratched by other jewelry items in your box. It is not really recommended to hang the pearls for storage either, as this may place un-necessary strain on the silk.
8) See the post on "Pearl Baths", aka "The Guide to Cleaning and Caring For Your Pearls" from previous P-G discussions if your pearls ever get really dirty- I found the thread highly interesting and very informative.
9) The Sad Fact: Akoya pearls can and will age. This means that their nacre will over time (accelerated if you smoke- tar is yucky for pearls), will gradually discolor to a very unique Cream that is notoriously hard to match or replace. The bright, shiny Silvery-Rose color you buy today, will be Ivory in 20-30 years, and there is nothing to do about it.
10) The Good Fact: Akoya pearls can last a lifetime if properly cared for and worn in moderation. Inspect the strand carefully for any pits and cracks in the nacre, I recommend buying AAA quality, and start out with a strand that doesn't blink at you, and you should be just fine!
Olivia,
I hope this helps, there's not much more to say on the subject...
Except:
Enjoy your pearls, and next time, buy Freshwater!
