November 25th, 2009 
Alvaro Duarte Whether for decorations or jewellery, mother of pearl has been used throughout history to adorn musical instruments, marble, and ceramics – anything that can benefit from its artistic shine is fair game. Their gorgeous colors are created by carving out mollusk shells, which can cast some amazing reflections that produce a new artistic effect that changes based on the angle from which it is being viewed. Though it used to be worn primarily by royalty, these days it is so affordable that average people can own it, yet it retains the beauty that has prompted families to keep unique pieces over generations.
Mother of pearl loses its luster easily, but it can be maintained with the proper care.
Adhere to the following directions to keep your mother of pearl pretty for many years to come.
Mother of pearl jewellery is delicate, so always be gentle. Whether you’re putting it on or taking it off, make sure you do it carefully so that the pearls won’t grate on each other. Friction can cause serious damage to your pearls’ nacre, which in time will reduce your beautiful jewellery to dull stones.
Activities that are strenuous should be avoided at all costs. Don’t allow your jewellery to be jostled. In other words, don’t run, don’t crawl, don’t act in any manner that will cause your mother of pearl jewellery to grate against itself. By being overly active, you run the risk of allowing your jewellery to catch on objects as you pass by, which could rip any string holding your pearls together and cause you to lose your mother of pearl or damage it beyond recognition. Necklace strings will deteriorate when exposed to sweat from your body, which will also cause damaging friction.
Don’t shower or bathe while wearing mother of pearl jewellery. It’s for the best to avoid plunging jewellery into standing water, and mother of pearl is not excused from this rule. Dunking your jewellery can cause similar problems to the previous suggestions – the water can ruin any strings (for instance in a necklace) which can produce grating among the pearls. Play it safe and take off all jewellery before bathing or showering.
Be sure to let wet jewellery dry before putting it back into storage. If you do let your jewellery get wet, you’ll need to wait until its entirely dry before messing with it again. This helps you in two ways: letting it dry avoids wear and tear on your jewellery, and since it is dry, there is less opportunity for bacteria to grow on your jewellery. Nobody wants to wear a germ infested piece of jewellery on their naked skin.
When dirty, jewellery should be carefully cleaned. Mother of pearl is too delicate for the power and abrasiveness of most common chemical cleaners. Never put your mother of pearl jewellery in an ultrasonic cleaner for that same reason. When your jewellery is dirty, try wiping it clean with a gentle cloth. If you absolutely need more cleaning power, try a mild soap and water mixture. As always, make sure your jewellery is totally dry before storing it.
Mother of pearl jewellery should be stored on its own. Try keeping mother of pearl in a soft bag made from cloth. Keeping your jewellery separated in its own container helps not only to keep dust at bay but also will prevent friction that could damage the nacre of your mother of pearl.
Mother of pearl is beautiful and affordable, and with a little attention to these suggestions you can keep yours looking amazing for life.
Are you curious about Mother of Pearl jewellery and how to craft amazing accessories that can compete with the pros? Then make sure you browse the many Mother of Pearl web resources to learn more about these brilliant beauties.
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Thanks for the advice. I have a Majorcan Pearl Necklace that is very stained – I loved it but think my make-up and perfumes have dis-coloured it over time. I’d love to get it back to normal!