How to Care for Dyed Pearls
Often, color applications are applied to lower-grade cultured pearls in an attempt to enhance their appearance. Yet higher quality color-enhanced pearls do exist. Caring for dyed pearls doesn't differ much from caring for natural pearls. All pearls are soft gemstones, and should be treated gently. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Cotton balls or soft cloth
- Mild soap
- Towel
- Chamois cloth
- Olive oil
- Jewelry box or pouch
Instructions
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Cleaning Dyed Pearls
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1
Wipe your dyed pearls with water-dampened cotton balls or a soft, damp cloth after each time you wear them.
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2
Wash pearls with a mild soap such as Ivory liquid or Lux liquid and water if they become dirty. Rinse them with lukewarm water and lay them flat on a damp towel to dry. Once the towel is completely dry, store your pearls.
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3
Polish your pearls with a chamois cloth and a bit of olive oil. Avoid getting oil on the string that holds the pearls.
Dyed Pearl Storage
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4
Store your pearls away from sunlight. It can cause them to fade and/or crack.
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5
Place your pearls in a jewelry pouch or jewelry box in order to allow them to receive a certain amount of humidity and moisture.
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6
Keep your pearls separate from other, harder gemstones. Since pearls are relatively soft, they can be scratched easily.
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7
Handle your pearls gently when removing and replacing them in storage. Casually tossing them around can result in damage.
General Dyed-Pearl Care Tips
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Remove your pearls while you apply hairspray, cosmetics or perfume. The chemicals and acids can damage the integrity of the pearls.
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9
Take off your pearls before swimming or showering. It's better not to get them wet.
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10
Avoid placing your pearls in an ultrasonic cleaner as the cleaner may remove dye from the pearls.
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11
Wipe your pearls off with a dampened cotton ball, as soon as possible, if you perspire on them.
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Tips & Warnings
Don't place pearls in a sealed plastic bag. They need humidity and moisture or they might become brittle and crack.
