How to Store Pearl Properly: Why a Safe Can Damage Your Pearls

Why Your Safe May Not Be the Safest Place for Your Pearls

When you own valuable jewelry, putting it in a safe seems like common sense.

Diamonds? Into the safe. Important documents? Into the safe. Family heirlooms? Safe.

So naturally, when you have a beautiful and valuable strand of pearls, you may assume the safest place for them is right alongside your other treasures.

Nope!

Pearls are different.

In fact, when it comes to pearls, the place designed to protect your valuables may create an environment that isn’t ideal for protecting the pearls themselves.

That’s why I like to tell pearl owners: Say no to the safe!

Or, at the very least, understand what your pearls need before locking them away for an extended period.

Pearls Are Not Like Other Gemstones

One of the most important things to understand about pearls is that they aren’t simply another hard mineral gemstone.

Pearls are organic gems. Their beautiful surface is made up primarily of layers of calcium carbonate and an organic binding material known as conchiolin.

That composition is part of what gives a fine pearl its remarkable luster.

It also means pearls need to be treated differently from diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and many of the other pieces you may keep in your jewelry collection.

Pearls are comparatively soft and sensitive to their environment. They are born from water! They like humidity and moisture!

Heat, chemicals, acids, abrasion, and excessively dry conditions can all be problematic.

The Problem With a Dry Safe

A safe is designed to protect valuables from theft, fire, and other external threats.

But the environment inside a safe isn’t necessarily designed around the needs of an organic gemstone like a pearl.

Safes can have very dry interiors, particularly when moisture-control or desiccant products are being used.

That may be desirable when you’re protecting paperwork, metals, electronics, or other objects susceptible to moisture.

But that is not desirable for your pearls!

Pearls contain a small amount of moisture, and extremely dry conditions over long periods can contribute to dehydration and deterioration.

This is one reason I don’t recommend simply putting a strand of pearls into a safe and forgetting about it.

Your pearls may be protected from a burglar, but they are not protected from the environment...

Pearls Need Special Storage

Proper pearl storage isn’t complicated, but it does require a little thought.

First, keep pearls away from harder gemstones and jewelry that can scratch them. A diamond may be a pearl’s neighbor in your jewelry collection, but it shouldn’t be its roommate.

Store pearls separately in a soft pouch or a fabric-lined compartment where they’re protected from abrasion.

Avoid sealing them indefinitely in extremely dry or airtight conditions.

And don’t assume that a storage method that’s perfect for the rest of your fine jewelry is automatically appropriate for your pearls.

Your Pearls Were Made to Be Worn

There’s another wonderfully practical part of pearl care:

Wear them.

Pearls aren’t pieces that need to spend their entire lives hidden away.

A beautiful strand can be worn and enjoyed regularly, provided you take reasonable care of it.

Put your pearls on after applying perfume, hairspray, cosmetics, and lotions. Those products can contain substances that aren’t friendly to a pearl’s delicate surface.

After wearing your pearls, gently wipe them with a soft cloth before putting them away.

And periodically inspect the strand itself. If the silk is stretching, becoming dirty, or showing signs of wear, it may be time to have the pearls professionally restrung.

Call The Pearl Girls! We can help wth that!

What About Valuable or Heirloom Pearls?

Security still matters.

If you have a particularly valuable strand or an important family heirloom, I’m certainly not suggesting that you leave it sitting on the dresser.

The point is to consider both security and preservation.

If your pearls need to be kept in secure storage for long periods, pay attention to the conditions in which they’re being stored rather than assuming that any safe is automatically suitable.

For especially valuable pearls, speak with a knowledgeable pearl professional about an appropriate long-term storage solution.

The Best Pearl Collection Isn’t the One Hidden Away

Fine pearls can last for generations when they’re treated properly.

That’s part of their appeal.

A strand can belong to a grandmother, then a daughter, then a granddaughter, carrying decades of memories along with it.

But longevity isn’t automatic.

Understanding what makes pearls different is the first step toward caring for them properly.

So the next time you’re tempted to lock your pearls away indefinitely because it seems like the safest thing to do, remember:

The safe isn’t necessarily safe for your pearls.

Protect them, certainly.

But also care for them.

And most importantly, wear them.

Want to hear me chat more about caring for your pearls? Check out my newest video!

If you own pearls or are considering purchasing your first strand, learning a few simple rules of pearl care can make an enormous difference in keeping them beautiful for years to come.

Let me know how The Pearl Girls can help!

Love,

India