Maintaining Seldom-Worn Pearls

[JewelFreak]

Hello, Pearl Gurus! A question for you from the Royal Jewel thread. The history of the British queens' jewels (and other countries' too) is so complicated with stones taken from some pieces for use in new ones, or re-designing existing tiaras, necklaces, brooches, etc. Pearls are removed from tiaras often as styles or preferences change, for instance, and presumably kept in the vaults for future use. Pearls need to be worn to keep their lustre and beauty -- so how would they be maintained when not worn for a generation or even a century? They seem to re-emerge in great shape. For that matter, pearls in tiaras never touch the wearer's skin anyway: how do they stay beautiful? Wondered if you experts have any ideas.

Many thanks for any thoughts you have!

--- Laurie

 

[NacreLover]

Are you assuming that body oils from the wearer keep pearls from deteriorating? Dry storage conditions and chemicals are a detriment to the life span of pearls nacre. Allowing body oils to remain on your pearls during storage are no friend to the nacre either. Some people's body chemistry is naturally acidic and it is more corrosive than perfume.

The pearls on ancient jewelry items are natural pearls, pure nacre. Culturing didn't occur until the late 1800's. Those pearls would be very fragile and prone to damage as they are a thin shell of nacre over a MOP bead. Lack of moisture can cause cracking or seperating of the nacre from the mop bead. The owners rough handling during wear, inadequate cleaning or improper storage conditions can ruin the nicest pearls.


http://www.cpaa.org/pearls_care.asp

http://www.mikimotoamerica.com/about-pearl-jewelry/caring-for-pearls/general-jewelry-care/

 

[JewelFreak]

Thanks for the links, Nacrelover. No, I know chemicals are not the friend of pearls. What I meant was like this, from Mikimoto's site:

"Leaving pearl jewelry in a security box for long periods may cause pearls to dehydrate, so enjoy them frequently. There is a saying that "pearls want to be worn," and it is true!"

Royal owners often remove pearls & stones from tiaras & brooches, etc., when they inherit (or buy) a piece & decide to re-design it. Queen Mary was famous for breaking things down & re-using the gems in a new piece or putting them into another re-designed old one. What wasn't used was (and is) kept in the jewelry vault at Buck. Palace & sometimes reappears in new jewelry -- but it can be a generation later or even a century. Also pearl necklaces worn by, say, Queens Mary, Alexandra, or Victoria & not seen since, but still in royal family possession. Most are probably natural, but some are cultured.

So how would the royal jeweler keep them hydrated & lustrous while they're stored? I'm sure stuff of that value & beauty isn't allowed to gather dust & deteriorate -- wondered if any of you more expert types have an idea of how that's prevented.

--- Laurie

 

[NacreLover]

The information you're looking for may be here.
http://www.amimalakos.com/argonauta/...delleperle.pdf

 

[JewelFreak]

Thank you -- it did help (& was fascinating). I think the jewel vault must have a special pearl area where humidity & proper air flow are maintained. It's the only way old pearls would survive.

--- Laurie