Posts Tagged ‘mother of pearl’
Proper Maintenance And Storage Of Mother Of Pearl Jewellery
Throughout history, mother of pearl has been known to decorate ceramics, marble, and even musical instruments. Mollusk shells are scraped out to make artistic reflections of color that can change if hit with light from a different angle. At one time mother of pearl was worn by royalty, but in more modern times the average person can afford its cheaper price and keep it in the family from generation to generation.
As strong as it appears, the luster of mother of pearl can easily be lost. It takes proper care to maintain them over a period of years.
Adhere to the following directions to keep your mother of pearl pretty for many years to come.
Be gentle with your mother of pearl jewellery, as it is delicate. No matter what you’re doing with your jewellery, be sure you do it as carefully as possible. This will prevent the individual pearls from rubbing against each other. Over time, unnecessary friction can damage the nacre of your mother of pearl, which will dull your jewellery if you are not careful.
Don’t allow your jewellery to be jostled around while being worn. Don’t do anything that could cause your jewellery to bounce – this means no running or crawling or anything that could cause your jewellery to rub against itself. Ignoring this warning can cause your jewellery to become caught on other things as you walk by, and might cause the pearls to separate and hit the floor. In addition, the string in a necklace is worn down gradually by body sweat, which will cause unnecessary friction and result in damage to your mother of pearl.
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.
If your jewellery becomes dirty, be sure to clean it carefully. Mother of pearl being as delicate as it is, most chemicals are too abrasive and powerful to clean jewellery properly. Never put any mother of pearl in an ultrasonic cleaner for the same reason. If you are able, wipe any dirt from your jewellery with a piece of gentle cloth to clean your piece, but if you need something a little more heavy duty use a mixture of water and mild soap, and then allow it to sit and dry.
Don’t leave mother of pearl out in the open. Store your mother of pearl jewellery in a bag made from soft cloth. Keep it away from other pieces of jewellery to avoid wearing down the nacre with friction. This will also help avoid dust issues.
There are few accessories that are as beautiful as mother of pearl jewellery. Pay attention to the details listed above and you’ll have your mother of pearl bright and shining for as long as you need it.
Do you want to find great Mother of Pearl jewellery or more tips on crafting professional quality accessories? There are many online resources with plenty information about the amazing and gorgeous natural properties of Mother of Pearl.