Monday Blessings to you!
I remember when Mrs. George Bush Senior wore pearls about her neck when her husband served as our President. I was from a different generation in a different part of America that was doing their best to be uncultered blue jeaned beings getting down to earth and laid back. The more relaxed...the better. So many manners that I grew up on were being ignored and the louder you could be in the Library, the better.
I was no more interested in wearing pearls than feeding them to swine.
I'm no longer that young Momma that thought I couldn't incorporate pearls into a wardrobe. I like pearls and thought I'd blog about them. 
A few years ago, my husband and I went to Topeka, Kansas to see an Exhibit about Russia's Czar Nicholas II. I have never seen so many pearls before in my life. Being used in the decoration of religious clothing were thousands of pearls in one article.
Also in the items for the Royal Family, I was stunned at the number of pearls that had been used. Uncountable.
History tells us a story about pearls being worn only by the Royal elite. It was against the law for commoners to possess pearls. Times have certainly changed. In my situation it wasn't that I couldn't get my hands on pearls to wear, but that I didn't care to wear them.
Coming from an era where precious stones and gems aren't generally worn except to upscale events, I never could imagine such finery. It just wasn't a part of what I embraced as stylish. Coming from the clean cut fifties to the tie dyed late sixties onto the leisure suits seventies and anything goes nineties, I was not groomed to think about building a portfolio of jewelry and coins. Now that I am in my fifties, I regret that I didn't make it a point to purchase pearls all along. 
Now, I think they are lovely and wear them from time to time.
I had several strands of costume jewelry pearls hanging from my bedroom dresser mirror. Thought it added a romantic touch to my bedroom, but what I learned this past week-end was that displaying pearls the way I was is a huge No-No for real pearls.
NEVER store pearls in plastic bags because the plastic emits chemicals that cause the surface of pearls to deteriorate. Pearls should be stored flat in a jeweler's pouch made out of soft fabric such as silk, velvet or chamois. Or in an individual jewelry box slot away from other jewelry. Pearls are soft and can be easily scratched. If stored dangling downwards, the string will stretch and dirt will settle on the necklace making it more difficult to clean it.
The skin's natural oils help keep the pearl's luster, but perspiration is acidic and will cause the pearls to lose their luster. The acid gradually causes a barrel shaped pearl. After wearing the pearls it's advised to wipe the pearls with a soft lent free cloth and put away for safe keeping. Never store them in a safety deposit box or vault because the heated temperatures are hard on the pearls and can cause them to discolor, dry out, crackle or crack.
If you wear them a great deal you probably should have the pearl necklaces restrung every year or two. It's a good thing to have knots in the string between the pearls to prevent lose of pearls if the necklace is to break. Less pearls to fall off the strand. If nothing else the first three to four pearls on both sides of the clasp fastener should be knotted because this area takes more wear and is the commonest place for a strand to break. Having it knotted helps strengthen the chances of not losing the pearls if it should break.
NEVER ever use a ultra-sonic cleaner for your pearls. It will damage the coating. Pearls may be cleaned with mild soap (Ivory Flakes) and water solution or with store bought specially marked pearl cleaners.
NEVER steam clean.
NEVER use dish detergent, washer detergent, bleaches such as powdered cleaner, baking soda, ammonia based cleaners like windex.
NEVER use tooth brush, scouring pads,or abrasive materials to clean.
To Clean:
Lay strand on clean soft towel. Make solution and apply to pearls with pure natural bristle complexion or manicure brush. Scrub GENTLY. Careful to support strands so as to not stretch thread/string. Turn necklace over. Repeat.
Rinse:
Submerge strand in cool water and flush with cool tap water for minimum of five minutes. Carefully remove from water and lay on fresh towel to air dry. Don't move til completely dry. Don't hang pearls to dry.
Apply cosmetics, perfumes and hair spray before putting pearls on to wear and NEVER shower or swim with them on.
AND ONE LAST THING...
Did you know that Natural Pearls are sold by the carat weight, but
Cultured Pearls are sold by their size in millimeters?
I haven't gotten into the different types of pearls. Perhaps another time. With all this care about pearls, I wonder how careless I have been with so many special things. Just think of all the precious people who don't really take care of their spiritual lives. They could care less what their choices they make decides the consequences they will have to deal with as they come.
Matthew 13: 45 and 46
Jesus says,
45) "Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly (fine) pearls:
46) Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it." 
Dear One, you are precious in God's sight.
~Deanna~
