Pearl Care
A pearl is the only gem made by something alive. It rewards being worn, and asks only for a little care in return.
Born, not cut
Unlike a diamond, a pearl is soft and porous — grown inside a living oyster, never carved from stone. It behaves like something organic: it responds to oils, to air, to the way it is handled. Caring for a pearl isn't fuss. It is simply understanding what it is.
Last on, first off
Pearls go on after everything else, and come off before water. That single habit does most of the work.
After getting ready
Perfume, hairspray, lotion and makeup go on first. Let them settle, then put your pearls on. Their finish is sensitive to what's still wet on the skin.
Through the day
Worn against the skin, pearls stay supple and keep their quiet light. This is where they are happiest — on, and lived in.
Before water
Take them off before the shower, the pool and the gym. Heat, chlorine and prolonged water are the few things they don't forgive.
The polishing cloth, a few seconds
Every order arrives with a jewelry polishing cloth. Give each piece a few seconds with it before it goes away — it lifts the day's oils and keeps the surface clear. No solutions, no soaking; pearls dislike being submerged.
Back in its pouch
Each piece comes in a soft magnetic pouch, made to keep it. Tuck it back inside between wears — closed against dust, and apart from the harder stones and metal that scratch. Lay strands flat so the silk doesn't stretch.
What pearls dislike
Perfume & hairspray
Apply before, never after. Direct contact dulls the surface over time.
Household chemicals
Bleach, ammonia and acetone are too aggressive for an organic gem.
Ultrasonic & steam
Machine cleaning is too harsh. Pearls are cared for by hand, gently.
Abrasive cloths
Anything textured leaves fine scratches. Soft and dry, always.
Chlorine & salt water
Leave them out of the pool and the sea. Both strip the lustre.
Airtight storage
Sealed too long, pearls dry out and crack. Let them breathe.
Kept simply, kept long
Knotted strands are restrung every so often — the silk softens with wear, and the knots between each pearl keep them from rubbing. If a piece ever loses a little of its light, we'll look at it for you. Write to us at hello@grandelilith.com