Congratulations on your engagement! Now, if you were lucky enough to receive (or request, no judgement here) a pearl engagement ring, it’s time to learn the ropes. Whether you specifically loved the idea of a pearl engagement ring since you were a small child, or if you are the new recipient of a family heirloom, a pearl is not as simple as a diamond. Let’s check out how to look after your pearl engagement ring.
The Golden Rule
Absolutely, without a doubt, the number one golden rule about owning any pearl jewellery is this: last thing on, first thing off. If your loved one has proposed to you with an antique pearl ring that belonged to their favourite great aunt so-and-so, the pressure of maintaining that ring can seem enormous. The beauty of the ‘last thing on, first thing off’ rule is that it eliminates a lot of the potential risk your pearl jewellery might face.
Pearls are very soft gemstones, according to the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. The Mohs scale is a steadfast element of jewellery, allowing us to assess the likelihood of a stone being damaged by other gemstones, as well as the rest of the world around it. Pearls rank very low on the Mohs scale, only having a grade of 2.5 out of a possible 10. This means your pearl jewellery is very likely to be damaged by all manner of chemicals and scrapes that you’re likely to face in the outside world.
With that in mind, always make sure than any pearl jewellery you own – be it a pearl engagement ring or an elegant pearl strand – is put on after any perfume, moisturiser, other jewellery, etc. This is the golden rule.
Storage Solutions
Another essential step when looking after your pearl engagement ring is knowing the best way to store it. Wearing a pearl ring is simply not an option for everyday life, they are too fragile to be worn every day without risking serious damage to your jewellery. Therefore, storing your jewellery in a way that improves its security is key.
As we’ve established, pearls are susceptible to damage from a wide range of other gemstones. Everything from, diamonds, sapphires, rubies, emeralds, and more can leave scratches, chips, and other damage on your pearls. Soft storage bags, made with materials like silk, velvet, and suede, are essential when it comes to keeping pearls safe from harm. A pearl engagement ring in a soft cloth bag will be safe and sound in your jewellery box alongside your other pieces.
A lot of pearl jewellery, like pearl rings in particular, often have pearls and diamonds, posing more of a threat to other pieces of pearl jewellery. Because of this, it’s wise to get multiples of these storage bags so that you can keep individual pieces of pearl jewellery stored separately.
The Way to Wear
Wearing pearl jewellery is delightful, makes you feel like a country club regular, and deserves to be valued as a privilege. However, we have to wear it responsibly. We’ve established that it needs to be put on as the very last thing, and taken off upon returning home as a priority, but there is more you can do to look after your pearl pieces whilst still showing them off. Although we know that putting pearl jewellery away properly is an essential, it’s also important to get them out too.
Pearls need regular exposure to oxygen in order to properly sustain their organic lustre. With that in mind, ensure that you wear your pearls at every opportunity, whilst also making sure you don’t overdo it and damage them. A key element of wearing your pearl jewellery is giving it a good examination every time you get it out to put it on. A pearl engagement ring is likely to be set with claws, which can be bent out of shape by the rough and tumble of everyday life.
Inspecting your jewellery is paramount; if you spot any damage or scratches, you should take it to a jeweller at your earliest convenience in order to see if it can be repaired. Failing to take your pearl engagement ring to a professional when there are signs of wear and tear could result in a loss of the stone itself – much to the sorrow of all involved.
Although pearl engagement rings do require more work than plain diamond rings, they have an ethereal beauty and glow about them that makes them very appealing. They are ultimately worth the work they require, and make for a truly romantic engagement ring. What do you think?