The World is your Oyster - Caring for Pearls
For everyone celebrating your Birthday this month - Pearl is your Birthstone!
Pearls make a timeless and elegant addition to any jewellery lovers’ collection.
Whether it’s a pair of dainty earrings or a statement necklace, these ocean treasures can transform an outfit into the ultimate picture of class.
If you’ve ever wondered how these beauties are formed, we have oysters to thank and the sea current that carries debris into their shells. In order to protect itself, the oyster layers the foreign material with a mineral substance, until the stone transforms into a glistening gem.
Pearls have been worn as a form of adornment for millennia, with the earliest piece found in the sarcophagus of a Persian princess, dating back to 420 BC.
The ancient Greeks believed that pearls were the tear drops of joy from the Goddess of Love, Aphrodite. How lovely!
The love of pearls continued into the 20th century, while divers risked their lives searching at depths of up to 100ft, to retrieve a ton of oysters that would only generate 3 to 4 good quality pearls.
To this day we have beauty icons flaunting this sought-after jewellery, such as Audrey Hepburn with her ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ pearl necklace and Princess Diana’s pearl and sapphire choker. Undoubtedly, pearl wearers will want to take the very best care of them to ensure shine and reduce the chance of damage.
Here are my top 5 tips for looking after your pearls:
1. Since pearls are organic gems, made of calcium carbonate, they are vulnerable to the chemicals found in cosmetics. So, only put on your jewellery after you’ve sprayed your hair spray and perfume.
The golden rule with pearls is ‘Last on, first off’.
2. If you own a pearl ring or bracelet, remember to take it off before any activities that could damage the fragile surface, including bathing, playing sports or even grooming your pet.
3. To clean your pearls, use a soft cloth with a drop of water if necessary. Even the smallest amount of perspiration could take away the pearl’s shine, so remember to give them some TLC after each time you wear them. Top Tip: Use mineral or distilled water, because the chemicals in standard tap water can actually damage the surface.
4. For storage, I’d recommend that you keep your pearls in a silk bag or velvet lined box, something soft, to ensure that nothing will scratch them. Keeping pearls out of sunlight is a good idea as well, since long term exposure can turn them yellow.
5. If possible, keep your pearls separate from other pieces of jewellery to further ensure that nothing else can scratch or damage them.
Follow these tips and you'll have a glistening set of pearls good enough for a Persian Princess!
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Neck, Wrist and Ring Sizing
Neckwear
As a default all our pendants are hung on 18 inch chains. We have found this is the most popular length. We can supply our pendants on 16'' 18'' 20'' 22'' 24''.
To decide what is the best length for you, measure an existing chain that is a comfortable length and make a note to help when choosing.
Alternatively, use a piece of string or ribbon to determine the perfect length for you.
Click the image below to see our guide.
Wristwear
Bracelets are very straightforward. The universally accepted length is 7 to 71/2 inches. Ours all have a short extender chain to allow for a little variation.
Bangles can be a bit trickier. We have a great tool you can download to help with this. You can place your own bangle over the template or cut it out and carefully put your hand through the hole. We find the medium is by far our most popular size.
Click the image below to see our guide.
Rings
This to can be tricky, especially if it is for a surprise gift!
We have spent some time developing two tools on one page for you to help determine your size. There are clear instructions on the PDF tool that make it super easy to use and has proven to given accurate measurements.
Click the image below to see our guide.
Collette Ikimotu
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