Do Pearls Scratch Easily?


Pearls are extremely durable and resistant to impact, however, they can get scratched when exposed to sharp objects or other gems. Your pearl jewelry is also unable to resist scratches from being placed or dropped onto hard or rough surfaces. Any sharp bumps from clothing or other accessories, or any rough cloth, can scratch your pearls very easily.

Pearls scratch easily. Pearls have a hardness of 2.5 on the Moh Scale. This means that nearly all other items used to make jewelry can scratch them. This is why pearls should not be stored alongside other jewelry types. Ideally, pearls will have a special location designated for their storage.

Avoid wearing pearls with clothes made from rough fabrics or yarns which can get caught in your strings. Avoid pairing your pearls with clothes made of rough, solid materials like glitter or beads to avoid damage.

Tips for Preserving Your Pearls

Do not store pearls together with other pieces of jewelry, because pearls are particularly susceptible to scratches. The storage method will keep the pearl jewels from getting scratched from hard surfaces, and from getting rubbled by one another. Always keep pearls separated from solid pieces of jewelry like rings or bracelets so that the pearls do not get scratched.

Remove your pearl jewelry before washing your hands or engaging in strenuous physical activities which can cause scratches on the actual pearls. If you have jewels made of pearls for yourself, you can just apply a pearl polish to any scratches you have, and keep wearing them the way they are. If you are a jeweler or are trying to create a piece of pearl jewelry, there are some other ways to cover up scratches.

To start, avoid any chemicals or conditions that could weaken the pearl’s structure and make them more susceptible to scratches. Now that you know your pearls are delicate and prone to scratches, there are some things that you can do to make sure that they stay in great shape. Given the fact that pearls are such delicate jewels, there is not much you can do if a pearl has already been scratched.

Identifying Genuine Pearls

That is why another simple way of telling whether or not a pearl is genuine is to use a fingernail to scratch off the surface of a pearl, and if you see a powder of pearls, it must be genuine. If imitation pearls are pure glass beads, they usually weigh more than the real pearls, but if the imitation beads are waxy glass, then imitation pearls would weigh only about half as much as real pearls.

If you take one pearl in each hand (it can be from the same necklace) and you rub them together, you get the feeling that they are not evenly spaced out (a sort of jagged, raw feel) If the pearls are real, there is a pearl powder when you rub them together. If you bit on an actual pearl and scrape a little bit of it with your teeth, you will feel and hear a sandy, gritty surface of the pearl.

Using 5x or 10x magnification glasses to look at pearl surfaces, if it is a genuine pearl (including both natural and cultured pearls), then the surface appears to grow in grains, as the wind blows on the dunes; however, if you see rough, eggshell-like surfaces, it is an imitation pearl.

Most Pearls Have Slightly Different Shapes

Even a real strand of pearl necklaces, which are all perfectly round, can still show a few small differences in their pearl shapes. If you swirl the pearls over on a flat surface, you will see whether they are a little oval-shaped, or just slightly less than perfectly round. In a row of cultured pearls, even if they are top-quality and perfectly matching, you will always be able to see incredibly small differences among them. When you gently rub natural pearls against one another, or on your front teeth, they will feel slightly rough.

Pearl wires are stored separately from other jewelry items due to pearls’ softer surface that is easy to scratch off of other gemstones. All jewels made from cultured pearls, such as necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings, or pendants, must be stored under a safe environment of other jewelry, either in the original cases or soft cloth.

Most of your other necklaces and bracelets may hang from the jewelry stand, but pearls, particularly necklaces made with pearls, must be stored flat and out of contact with other necklaces so they do not tangle. While most necklaces are totally fine hung from a pretty jewelry rack, your pearl necklaces should not.

Pearls Can Wear Away If You Are Not Careful

They can create scratches and cause trouble when you are trying to get out the cloth fibers that are mixed in with your pearl necklace. Pearls set in rings and bracelets are more likely to get caught in rings and scratches than pearls set in brooches, earrings, necklaces, or strings.

Mother-of-Pearl is a fairly delicate material that can get scratched over time, mostly from repeated contact with other jewelry, therefore they should be treated carefully so as not to risk scraping their Cultured Pearls. As with any jewelry, you run the risk of discoloration and yellowing unless you care and keep your pearls.

Frequent wearing and aftercare will also increase pearls’ luster and durability, just be wary of slamming your pearls into other jewelry. Wiping it down helps to keep away oil buildup or other substances that might come into contact with the pearls over a day. Then, using another damp, clean cloth, gently scrub your soiled pearls, making sure that any soap residue or gunk has been completely removed.

If needed, you may want to rub a bit of alcohol over the pearls to get rid of any mud or skin oils. If the pearls are stained, you can mix a solution of lukewarm water and mild dish soap, soak a soft washcloth in it, and then scrub off the pearls. Acids from food and perspiration will damage pearls, so you should avoid vigorous or dirty activities when wearing them.

You will also want to take care to avoid touching any acids or sprays (perfume, hairspray…), as your pearls contain calcium carbonate crystals that are susceptible to acids. Yes, pearls will scratch, and it is best if you put them into jewelry boxes with harder gems, etc. As mentioned, pearls are 2.5 on the Mohs Hardness scale, meaning a pearl is considered to be a soft gemstone that will easily be scratched.

Gene Botkin

Hello, I'm Gene. My family belonged to the aristocracy of Old Russia, and I created this site to re-establish a familial connection with them. My aims are to generate interest in aristocratic virtues, such as beauty, honor, and loyalty, and to spread Russian culture.

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