Hello, our beautiful patrons of H&A! Hope you had a wonderful July!

Pearls are one of the most classic gems. There is something about pearls--they are so timeless, endearing and sentimental. Pearls are the most popular type of jewelry to be passed down as heirlooms.

I’m sure many of you have received a pair of pearl stud earrings or a strand of pearls from your grandmother or maybe even great grandmother.

With that much sentimental value, you will definitely want to take very good care of them.

Pearls are organic gems. If handled properly, they will maintain their beauty for a very long time. Please remember that they can be harmed by contact with many chemicals found in household cleaners, perfumes, cosmetics, and hair care products of all kinds. So it is very important to be conscientious in taking good care of them. The Cultured Pearl Association urges everyone to make sure to keep these rules in mind:

• Always remember that your pearls should be the last thing you put on when dressing and the first thing you take off when you get back home.

• Always use jewelry cleaner specifically labeled as safe for pearls.

• Always store your pearls wrapped in a soft cloth or pouch and protected from all abrasive objects.

• Always wipe your pearls with a soft cloth moistened with water.

• Always remove your pearls if you reapply hair spray, or put on perfume with a sprayer, as either can damage pearls.

• Always be aware of the types of fabric you wear. Heavily textured fabrics such as Shetland wool can damage pearls.

• Never use toothbrushes, scouring pads or any type of abrasive material to clean your pearls.

• Never expose your pearls to dish or laundry detergents, bleaches, powdered cleansers, baking soda, or any ammonia based cleaners like windex.

• Never use any type of ultrasonic cleaner.

• Never steam clean your pearls.

• Never use tarnish remover or any type of jewelry cleaner advertised on TV as a miracle cleaner

• Never leave your pearls around a direct source of heat such as a fireplace mantle, on top of a television set, stove, toaster oven, and so on.

• Never store your pearls in a very dry room or in a safe deposit box for a long time. Your pearls need a little moisture like your skin so they will not dry out.

Pearls are not only a sentimental gift from families (or from a lover!) but also a gift from the sea to be enjoyed for generations to come. The better you take care of them, the longer they will maintain their warm glowing luster. To start your own treasure trove of sentimental pieces, make sure to come check out our selection.