Value Village ／ Clothing
This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.
In Japan a pearl necklace is the standard piece for weddings, funerals and formal ceremonies (冠婚葬祭, kankonsōsai), and it is often passed from mother to daughter. Yet pearls are among the most delicate of all gems. Store them the wrong way and the lustre fades within a few years.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Composition and hardness | Layers of calcium carbonate (aragonite) and protein (conchiolin). Mohs hardness 2.5–4.5 (diamond 10, quartz 7, a fingernail about 2.5) |
| Weak against | Acid (sweat, fruit juice, vinegar), perfume, hairspray, cosmetics, chlorine (pools, bleach), high heat, extreme dryness |
| After wearing | Wipe with a soft, dry cloth (a glasses cloth or a jewellery cloth). For heavier soiling, wipe with a cloth lightly dampened in lukewarm water, then dry immediately with a dry cloth |
| Never | Ultrasonic cleaners, detergent, alcohol, acidic cleaning fluids, steam |
| Restringing | Worn daily to weekly: every 1–2 years. Ceremonies only: every 3–5 years. Time to restring when you see gaps between the pearls, the string has stretched and sags, or it has discoloured |
| Storage | Apart from other jewellery, in a soft cloth or a dedicated case. Avoid long periods next to a desiccant or in a sealed container (a cause of cracking). Avoid direct sunlight and heat |
[Verify] The Mohs hardness, the going rate for restringing and the explanation of cracking caused by dryness follow industry-body explanations. Check them against the sources.
Pearls are soft enough to be scratched by a fingernail. Contact with diamonds or metal leaves scratches and dulls the lustre. Store them on their own.
String deteriorates with age even when unworn. Check every few years for gaps, sagging and discolouration, and have it restrung. When a string breaks, pearls are the piece that suffers most.
Soaking for long in water damages the string. Wipe with a damp cloth, then dry immediately. Never leave them wet.
Extreme dryness is described as causing the pearl layers to crack, and jewellers commonly advise against keeping pearls next to desiccants.
This is a classic way to damage the pearls, the string and the glued parts. Never use one on pearls. If the dirt will not come off, take them to the shop you bought them from or to a jeweller.
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https://jja.ne.jp/
https://www.japan-pearl.com/
https://www.kokusen.go.jp/
⚠️ Editorial note: the source URLs above were identified by search. Our working environment cannot reach go.jp domains, so the contents have not been checked against the text. Verify every source before publication and record who checked it and when.
What we share here are ideas and everyday practices passed down among people living in Japan, together with general information drawn from public sources. They are not official recommendations, and they are not professional instruction. Practices vary between households and regions.
This is general information. Results vary from person to person and depend on your own conditions and surroundings.
Please decide for yourself, using your own judgement, whether any of this suits your situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from following this article.
Follow the care label and the maker's instructions for any garment, shoe or bag. For expensive or sentimental items, ask a specialist cleaner or repairer.
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