Why freshwater pearls ask for gentle care
A pearl is not a stone. It is nacre, laid down in fine layers by the mollusc over months, and it is softer and more porous than almost anything else you might wear. That softness is the source of a pearl's depth of light, the quality we look for when we hand-select from the top of each harvest. It is also the reason a pearl asks for a little more thought than a diamond or a band of gold.
The good news is that pearls have been kept and passed down for centuries, and the care they need is simple. A few small habits are all it takes to keep freshwater pearls luminous for generations.
Last thing on, first thing off
This is the single rule that matters most. Your pearls should be the last thing you put on when you dress and the first thing you take off when you come home.
Nacre is porous, which means it absorbs what it meets. Perfume, hairspray, hand cream, and the natural acids in perspiration all dull the surface over time and can etch into the layers that give a pearl its mirror-like shine. Letting scent and product settle before you fasten a clasp keeps that surface clean and bright.
- Apply perfume, hairspray, and lotion first, then let them dry fully.
- Put your pearls on last, once you are ready to leave.
- Take them off before you exercise, swim, or shower.
- Remove them at night so they rest away from heat and friction.
How to clean pearls without harming them
Cleaning pearls is quieter than most people expect. After each wear, wipe each pearl gently with a soft, slightly damp cloth. This lifts away the day's oils and traces of product before they have a chance to build up. Let the piece dry flat before you put it away.
What you leave out matters more than what you use.
- Never use an ultrasonic cleaner. The vibration can loosen nacre and the knots on a strand.
- Avoid harsh chemicals, jewellery dips, and anything containing alcohol, ammonia, or bleach.
- Skip abrasive cloths and toothbrushes, which can scratch the surface.
- If your pearls need more than a wipe, ask a jeweller who knows how to clean them by hand.
How to store pearls so they stay luminous
Pearls like to be kept soft, cool, and separate. The metals and stones in the rest of a jewellery box are harder than nacre, and a single loose clasp can leave a fine scratch across a pearl's face.
- Keep each piece in a soft pouch or a lined compartment of its own.
- Lay strands flat rather than hanging them, so the silk does not stretch over time.
- Store away from heat, direct sun, and dry air, all of which can leave nacre brittle.
- Let pearls breathe. A sealed plastic bag traps moisture and is best avoided.
Why hand-knotted silk protects every pearl
Every strand we finish in Ontario is hand-knotted on silk, with a small knot tied between each pearl. It is slower to do, and it is worth it. The knots keep the pearls from rubbing against one another, so their surfaces stay smooth. Should a strand ever break, the knots hold the pearls in place instead of letting them scatter.
Silk is a natural fibre, and over years of wear it softens and relaxes, as it is meant to. A well-loved strand can be restrung so it sits and hangs as it did on the first day. We think of restringing not as a repair but as part of a pearl's long life, one of the reasons a piece made to order today can be worn by someone you love decades from now.
Kept close, worn for a lifetime
Freshwater pearls reward the small attentions. Wear them often, wipe them after, keep them soft and separate, and have them restrung when the silk asks for it. Cared for this way, a pearl only deepens in meaning as the years pass.
Each of our pieces is made to order and hand-knotted in our Ontario studio, hand-matched from the top of the harvest to be kept and passed on. If you are ready to begin something you will keep forever, we would love for you to explore what we make.
