Akoya Pearls – Maintenance and Care for an Expensive Piece of Jewelry

Akoya Pearls – Maintenance and Care for an Expensive Piece of Jewelry

Posted: March 17, 2011 

If you are the happy owner of a piece of jewelry that contains Akoya pearls, you need to know that they require adequate maintenance. Although most pearls are dealt with in the same way, Akoya pearls are some of the most luxurious types and your care towards should not be taken lightly.

First of all, the pearls are produced by living organisms and therefore they are very sensitive to chemicals and body fluids. They “dislike” the human skin and its moisture, especially since skin produces an acid that can affect the nacre and deform the pearls in time. This means that whenever your set of Akoya pearls gets in touch with your skin, you have to clean the jewelry immediately after you are done.

Never use chemicals to clean your Akoya pearls. The products especially created for jewelry maintenance must be avoided as well. They are only useful for gems and precious stones. Instead, use a soft and clean cloth with warm water. This way you will maintain a clean surface and hydrate the pearl. Since the pearls are made out of minerals, they need constant hydration. Drying should be natural. Just place the jewelry on a plain, clean surface and let them dry. Do not place them in direct sunlight.

When you decide to put your jewelry away, never put the Akoya pearls in the same box as other pieces because they can easily get scratched. Do not keep them hanging either or the gravity will take care of their mounting. Even with self-cleaning, Akoya pearls should also be taken to a professional to get cleaned once in a while. The mounting resistance should also be verified every couple of years.

The maintenance operations for Akoya pearls are not that complicated, but they are very strict. Never delay the cleaning just because you are tired after a long night of showing them off. Every small detail is important. 

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