[pearlshoppe]

Ok I've read everyone's take on cleaning of pearls. I've never run mine under water because of fear it would stretch silk too much, but I do rub my hands in a little olive oil, very light film on hands, and gently roll beads in hands and finish by rubbing with soft cloth. They always look beautiful and I've never had any regrets. I do like the idea of beeswax with the exception of it getting into drill holes and gunking up.? Have I been doing it wrong?

[laurenb]

Originally Posted by pearlshoppe

Ok I've read everyone's take on cleaning of pearls. I've never run mine under water because of fear it would stretch silk too much, but I do rub my hands in a little olive oil, very light film on hands, and gently roll beads in hands and finish by rubbing with soft cloth. They always look beautiful and I've never had any regrets. I do like the idea of beeswax with the exception of it getting into drill holes and gunking up.? Have I been doing it wrong?

I haven't been cleaning pearls as long as others here, but I don't think you're doing anything wrong.

FWIW, I've only stretched wet silk when I momentarily lost my mind and pulled the pearls through a cloth to dry them. That's what I do after wearing, but when wet I pat them dry. I do dunk them in distilled or filtered water last if I use chlorine-treated fluoridated tap water just to try to flush those chemicals away.

By IOOC standards, Extra-virgin olive oil contains no more than 0.8% acidity. the US isn't a member, but many companies we import oil from are. I don't know how to compare that percentage to pH, but this means extra virgin oils imported from IOOC countries will be less acidic and would therefore seem to be the best choice for seasoning pearls to perfection.

[pearl-man]

small pearl unknotted...over trhe years we have seen several unknotted genuine pearl necklaces, 2-3" from clasp, wear into
a barrel shape.
Our stringing dept was founded by my aunts in the 30" continued by my mother and then yours truly since 69. We have always had a policy of recommending not washing a finished strand. Gentle wipe OK. We have had some graduated strands so gunked up with cake makeup you couldn't find the pearls at the end...No Lie... This particular wholesale customer eventually brought them to us 3 times a year when we explained "gunking". He just didn't want to bother.
I've seen graduated cultured pearls not cared for and not knotted that were worn thru' the nacre. We have always felt that washing weakend the silk and transferred some of the "gunk" to the cord. Frequent stringing is the answer.
pearlman

[pearlescence]

Add in perfume. I have reeled back in nose anguish sometimes when I have opened an envelope when pearls come in for re-stringing

[pearlshoppe]

Laurenb and pearlman,
Thank you both, I appreciate your helpful comments. I thought I knew, but the more I read the more I questioned myself. I buy high quality extra virgin olive oil from a company that imports it directly from Tuscany. (I also own a catering and dessert business). I think I will stay away from beeswax (gunking fear factor) though.

[pearlshoppe]

An added note, on the restringing, I sell to locals,so I see them often. I remind them about restringing, but they just seem to have a mindset against it. When asked why they say they are scared it would in some way affect the orginal value of the pearls. I tell them it isn't the string but the pearls themselves that are of value, but still meet with opposition. Any suggestions on convincing them it is best for their investment in the long run?

[Hanaleimom]

I've only applied olive oil once to some of my strands. I really could not tell if they look shinier. Sometimes I wonder if using oil would even attract dust on the pearls' surfaces. As far as daily wear, when I take them off, I use a spray bottle of distilled water to wet the pearl cloth (from the vendors here) and wipe them down.

[laurenb]

Originally Posted by pearlescence

Add in perfume. I have reeled back in nose anguish sometimes when I have opened an envelope when pearls come in for re-stringing

They must be a walking cloud of sillage if that much has gotten into the silk! Pity the poor bystanders.

I'm a bit of a perfume nut, so I've always wondered-- does evidence of perfume use invariably come along with nacre damage? It's always listed as one of the dangers to pearl longevity. I took to wearing perfume in my hair when wearing pearls, even though scalp oils are notorious for messing about with the scent.

I should probably have mentioned that I'm more intensive about washing because I can de-plate a pendant or chain in hours. My skin is *that* acidic.

[Cathybear]

I squirt my perfume lower down, under clothes. I can still smell it but it's away from my pearls. I guess I should grab a pearl out of the rubbish crate and spray it with perfume and see what happens.

[Pearl_dreams]

I love to wear perfume and like Cathy, simply apply it lower so it doesn't affect my pearls.

Perfume can be photosensitizing so, particularly in the summer, I prefer not to spray it on my throat/neck where skin is exposed to sun.