Nacre is calcium carbonate bound with an organic protein. It is beautiful, and it is soft — around 2.5 to 4 on the Mohs scale. Almost all pearl damage comes from three things: acid, abrasion and dryness.
Last on, first off
Put your pearls on after perfume, hairspray, sunscreen and makeup. Take them off before you take anything else off. This one habit prevents most dulling.
Wipe after every wear
A soft, slightly damp cloth removes skin oils and body salts. Dry with a second cloth before storing. Never use ultrasonic cleaners, steam, vinegar, ammonia or any commercial jewelry dip.
Store them soft and separate
Keep pearls in a fabric pouch or a lined box, away from diamonds and hard metal that will scratch them. Store them flat so the silk thread does not stretch, and never seal them in an airtight bag — nacre needs a little ambient humidity or it can dry and craze.
Restring on a schedule
If you wear a knotted strand weekly, have it restrung every one to two years. Knots between pearls stop them abrading each other and keep the rest of the strand safe if the thread ever breaks.
Wear them
Contact with your skin genuinely helps pearls keep their glow. A strand in a drawer for a decade is the strand most likely to look tired.
