Pearls are the most sensual and flattering of gems. They beautify their owner, reflecting a soft glow that enhances the natural harmony of the features. It is therefore essential to maintain the gentle lustre that has been so painstakingly created by nature.

Choose Pearls that flatter your colouring and features

Well-chosen pearl jewellery, in particular a necklace and matching earrings, will give its wearer a lifetime of pleasure. Choose irregular shaped pearls for someone with prominent features, and for someone with very fine and regular features choose round pearls.

When choosing pearl colour it is important to bear in mind your skin-tone, eye colour and hair colour. For example, white will suit most people, yet for something a little different try choosing grey and peacock black coloured pearls for someone with green or blue eyes. Pink or copper coloured pearls will suit a person with red or deep brown hair.

Always choose Lustre! All the pearls we use in Coleman Douglas Pearls jewellery are individually chosen for their lustre. This is very important, as dull pearls however big will do nothing for their owner's beauty, they will just look heavy to the eye rather like stone pebbles around the neck. There will be no inner glow to confer its beauty upon the wearer. Check that pearls do not have dull sections by rolling them on a flat white surface, if the pearl blinks it means that a section of the nacre is dull.

Pearls are alkaline

Pearls are vulnerable to all acids, including perfume and hairspray. It is therefore advisable for their owner to apply all make-up, hairspray and perfume first, wash her hands and then put on her pearls as the final touch.

Excessive or acid perspiration as produced by aerobic exercise can reduce the lustre of pearls, as can contact with soap. Chlorinated or treated water, as normally found in tap water, can have an equally damaging effect. The acids and chemicals in treated water eat away at the pearl nacre, eventually leaving the pearl with no lustre or worse still with no nacre covering at all in the case of an oyster cultured pearl.

After wear it is best to wipe the pearls

Using a slightly damp, clean, soft cloth, wipe your pearls to remove any residual perspiration or perfume which would eat away at the nacre. Lay them on a dry, clean cloth to dry out overnight. Do not be tempted to wear a strand of pearls when they are still damp or wet, as the silk will stretch and leave unsightly gaps between the pearls.

Pearls should never be stored in a hanging position

Store pearls on a bed of suede or silk with other pearls or other soft stones. If pearls are carelessly stored in a jewellery box with other harder materials like diamonds they will scratch. If a necklace is stored hanging the weight of the pearls on the necklace will reduce the elasticity and strength of the silk on which they are strung. It is important to re-string pearls every year if worn frequently, or as soon as the thread begins to stretch; you would otherwise run the risk of the thread breaking and losing the entire strand.

Do not swim in your pearls

Chlorinated or otherwise treated water is very damaging to the surface nacre of any pearl as it will eat away at the nacre, eventually leaving either a dull pearl or an oyster cultured pearl with no nacre coating on it at all, just a mother of pearl nucleus bead. Salt water is particularly damaging to the thread used in stringing, as when it dries the salt becomes abrasive on the thread and this increases the risk of the necklace breaking.

Remove earrings and rings by their setting

Always remove jewellery by its setting otherwise if rings, earrings or brooches are removed by the pearl attached to the jewellery fitting, it will strain the pearl's contact point with the setting and might cause the pearl to fall off.

How to clean pearls

The best solution is to either visit us at 42 Beauchamp Place London SW3 1NX, Great Britain or send your pearls by Special Delivery Royal Post or courier to 42 Beauchamp Place London SW3 1NX, Great Britain to be cleaned for which there is a nominal £20 charge + postage or courier fee. If you are outside the UK take them to your favourite reputable jeweller to be cleaned.

Remember pearls are best looked after with a once yearly check up, which might involve re-stringing if the necklace is worn constantly and would certainly involve a once a year professional clean.

Never clean pearls with a toothbrush or scouring pad to remove a stubborn piece of dirt - this will scratch them forever. Instead, rub the pearl with your fingernail to remove the offending article; this will not harm your pearls as fingernails are of the same hardness as pearls and will therefore not scratch their surface.

Never attempt to clean pearls with detergents, bleaches, powdered cleaners, baking soda, dishwashing liquid, lemon, vinegar or even commercial jewellery cleaners, unless the label specifically stipulates that the cleaner is specifically designed for pearls. Ammonia is frequently present in commercial jewellery cleaners and will irreparably damage pearls.

Pearls should never be cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner, as this could shatter the pearls due to their concentric nacre layer structure.

Re-string once a year

It is advisable to re-string as soon as the thread discolours, stretches or frays. The highest point of stress in a necklace is between the clasp and the first pearl. Sometimes at this point of contact 'gimp' is used to protect the thread from the constant rubbing of metal, this is a minute metal coil that surrounds and protects the thread.

Keep an eye out for any sign of discoloration of the 'gimp'. If it becomes green it is a sure sign of wear, as it means the thread that it is protecting is rotting underneath.

Pearls are structurally strong but can be easily scratched

Pearls are structurally very strong due to their multiple concentric layer structure, yet their surface is approximately the same hardness as fingernails. Most materials will scratch pearls, in particular diamonds. It is therefore advisable to store pearls carefully either in the box they came in or rolling them in silk or suede without undue pressure and only with other materials that are as soft as them.

Never "test" the genuineness of a pearl by biting it

It is not advisable to bite a pearl or pass it across your teeth to see if it is real. Although the main component of a pearl is calcium carbonate like our teeth, the protein that holds together the particles of calcium carbonate in our teeth is stronger than the protein that holds together the calcium carbonate particles in a pearl; this means a pearl is softer than our teeth. The 'tooth test' is not only unhygienic but also damaging to the pearl surface which will be scratched.

Store pearls in silk or chamois leather

When pearls are not in use, place them carefully in silk or chamois leather or suede to preserve their lustre. These materials are soft, natural and retain humidity. If possible keep a small glass of water by them if the pearls are being stored in a very heated atmosphere, as they will dehydrate. Always try to keep pearls stored separately from diamonds and other hard stones, as these could easily scratch the surface of the pearls. Opals share the same surface hardness as pearls and therefore do not scratch their surface.

Store in a place where there is plenty of air circulation

A storage place that is too dry, hot or does not allow air to circulate will eventually dehydrate pearls. Do not store pearls for prolonged periods of time in a safe where there is almost no air circulation, and never in a plastic bag where there is absolutely no air circulation.

If pearls are kept for too long in an airtight environment such as a sealed plastic bag or in a safe the nacre will discolour and turn yellow. It will eventually dry out and the surface of the pearl will become cracked - at which point there is no way of nursing the pearl back to health.

Pearls are the most natural of gems known to man

It is hard to believe that the pearls seen adorning the necks of beautiful women are in fact just as nature intended them to be. Pearls are created with a minimum amount of human interference and with a great degree of autonomy by the oyster or mussel who gave birth to such beautiful gems. Given proper care they will give their owner a lifetime of pleasure.

Wear pearls as much a possible

This is essential to keep them hydrated. It is said that the best time to wear pearls is at night when we are generally at rest, as the natural oils exuded by the body are at their richest.

Remember the more you wear your pearls the more they will enhance your beauty, the more you will feed them with your natural oils and enhance their lustre which in turn will help preserve your investment for future generations.