Sloane Street jeweller Cassandra Goad founded her eponymous luxury fine jewellery brand in 1985 and pearls have become an integral part of her collections. “The wonderful glow and brilliant lustre of pearls always lifts up the face,” she explains. “As Coco Chanel famously said: ‘A woman needs ropes and ropes of pearls’.”

However, due to their delicate properties, pearls require special care to ensure they maintain their gleaming shine and lustre. Here, Cassandra shares her top four expert tips for how to look after pearls and keep them looking tip-top:

Always keep your pearls in a silk or fabric pouch

The wonderful pearly lustre that gives them their glow is created by the oyster (or mussel) in thin layers, one on top of another, over several years. Silk protects these delicate layers from damage.

Never mix pearls and perfume

The scientist in Cassandra will tell you that pearls are calcareous creations of nature with a delicate outer skin that is easily attacked, especially by scent or body creams.

Restring your pearl necklaces every year

Pearls are strung on silk thread travelling through the length of the necklace or bracelet. Natural body oils and scents cling to the thread and start to damage the pearl at the drill hole, causing discolouration. Regular restringing with new silk thread avoids this happening.

Avoid showers, baths and swimming pools when wearing your pearls

These all often involve chemical additions that can damage the porous nature of pearls as well as rot the silk thread. It is best not to take your pearls here.

Whether worn with eveningwear or an everyday outfit, pearls add elegance to every ensemble, and following these tips to keep your pearls looking at their best will see you wearing them time and time again.

Cassandra Goad, 147 Sloane Street, SW1X 9BZ | 020 7730 2202
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