The single most effective thing you can do for any fine jewelry is simple: put it on last, take it off first. Applying perfume, lotion, and hairspray before your jewelry — rather than after — and removing pieces before showering, sleeping, or exercising will extend the life of sterling silver and gold-filled jewelry more than any cleaning product will.

Beyond that one habit, a little routine care keeps handmade, delicate pieces looking the way they did the day they arrived. Here's what actually matters.

Everyday Care Habits

• Put jewelry on last. Apply makeup, perfume, and lotion first, then add your jewelry — this limits direct chemical contact with metal surfaces.
• Take it off first before showering, swimming, sleeping, cleaning, or exercising.
• Wipe pieces down after wearing with a soft, lint-free cloth to remove natural oils and residue before storing.
• Store pieces separately, flat or hanging, so metal doesn't rub against metal and cause scratches.
• Keep jewelry dry. Moisture is one of the biggest accelerants of tarnish on sterling silver specifically.

Caring for Sterling Silver

Sterling silver naturally tarnishes over time through a chemical reaction with sulfur compounds in the air — this is normal and not a sign of poor quality. It happens faster in humid climates and with exposure to chlorine, perfume, and skin products.

To clean tarnished sterling silver:

1. Use a dedicated silver polishing cloth (avoid paper towels or regular fabric, which can scratch)
2. For light tarnish, gently rub in straight lines rather than circles
3. For deeper tarnish, a mild silver-specific cleaning solution can help, followed by a thorough rinse and dry
4. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on pieces with pearls or other soft gemstones — the vibration can loosen settings or damage stones

To slow tarnish between wears, store silver in an airtight bag or container, ideally with an anti-tarnish strip, and away from direct sunlight and humidity.

Caring for Gold-Filled Jewelry

Gold-filled jewelry is lower-maintenance than sterling silver since it doesn't tarnish the same way, but the surface can still dull with buildup over time.

To clean gold-filled jewelry:

1. Wipe with a soft, dry cloth after each wear
2. If needed, clean with lukewarm water and a small amount of mild soap, using a soft cloth or very soft-bristled brush
3. Rinse thoroughly and dry completely before storing
4. Avoid abrasive cloths, harsh chemical cleaners, and prolonged soaking

Caring for Pearls Specifically

Pearls are organic and softer than most gemstones, so they need the gentlest handling of anything in a jewelry box:

• Never use ultrasonic cleaners, steam cleaners, or harsh chemicals on pearls
• Wipe with a soft, slightly damp cloth after wearing — never soak
• Apply perfume and hairspray well before putting on pearl jewelry, and let them fully dry first
• Store pearls separately from other jewelry, ideally in a soft pouch, since harder gemstones and metal can scratch the nacre

How to Store Jewelry to Prevent Damage

• Use a lined jewelry box, soft pouches, or a hanging organizer — anything that keeps pieces from tangling or touching
• Keep chains fastened when storing to prevent knotting
• Store silver in anti-tarnish bags when possible
• Avoid storing jewelry in humid rooms (like bathrooms) or in direct sunlight
• If you won't wear a piece for a while, an airtight container with a silica gel packet helps control moisture

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my sterling silver jewelry turn black?

This is tarnish, caused by a natural chemical reaction between silver and sulfur compounds in the air, moisture, or skin products. It's a normal characteristic of sterling silver, not a defect, and can be polished away with a silver cloth or gentle cleaning solution.

Can I shower with gold-filled jewelry on?

Occasional brief water contact is generally fine, but it's best to remove gold-filled jewelry before showering, swimming, or exercising to extend its lifespan, since soap residue and prolonged moisture can dull the surface over time.

How often should I clean my jewelry?

A quick wipe-down after each wear is the most effective habit. A deeper clean every few weeks to a month — depending on how often you wear a piece — is generally sufficient for most sterling silver and gold-filled jewelry.

Is it bad to wear jewelry every day?

Not at all — gold-filled and sterling silver pieces are designed for daily wear. Consistent gentle wear with basic care, like removing before water exposure and wiping down after, typically keeps pieces looking better than jewelry left untouched in humid storage for long stretches.

Can pearls go in water?

Pearls should not be soaked or exposed to chlorinated or salt water, as prolonged moisture and chemicals can damage the nacre surface. A quick wipe with a soft, damp cloth after wearing is sufficient care.

Un. even hand-finishes sterling silver, gold-filled, and pearl jewelry to order in Venice, California.

Choosing a pearl comes down to four things: luster, surface quality, shape, and type. A high-quality pearl reflects light sharply rather than looking chalky or dull, has a mostly smooth surface, and holds its shape consistently from every angle. Everything else — size, color, price — is really a matter of personal taste once those four fundamentals are in place.

At Un. Even, we sketch and hand-finish every pearl piece in our Venice, California studio, so we spend a lot of time sourcing pearls that meet this standard before they ever reach a design. Here's what we look for, and what you should look for too.

What Makes a Pearl "Good Quality"?

Luster: the single most important factor

Luster is the sharpness and depth of light reflecting off the pearl's surface. Hold a pearl up to a light source — a high-luster pearl will show a bright, almost mirror-like reflection with a clear edge. A low-luster pearl looks more like a matte white bead, with a soft, hazy glow instead of a defined reflection.

If you remember one thing from this guide, make it this: luster matters more than size. A smaller pearl with excellent luster will always look more luxurious than a larger pearl with poor luster.

Surface quality

Natural pearls form with minor surface characteristics — this is part of what makes them organic rather than manufactured. What you're checking for is the degree of these marks. Look for pearls that are clean and smooth to the eye at a normal viewing distance (roughly arm's length). Small, non-visible imperfections are normal and not a quality concern; deep pits, cracks, or heavy chalkiness are.

Shape

Round is the most classic and typically most valuable shape, but it's far from the only beautiful option:

• Round — the traditional, symmetrical shape most people picture
• Baroque — irregular, organic shapes with unique character; increasingly popular for modern, less-formal jewelry
• Button — flattened on one side, often used in earrings and rings
• Drop/teardrop — elongated, a favorite for pendants and dangle earrings

Baroque pearls in particular have become a signature look in modern minimalist jewelry, precisely because their asymmetry feels more organic and less "produced" than a perfectly round pearl.

Color and overtone

Pearls range from classic white and cream to silver, pink, and gold body tones, often with a secondary overtone (a subtle sheen of pink, green, or blue) visible in certain light. Neither is more "correct" — this is purely about what complements your skin tone and the metal you're pairing it with. Cooler overtones tend to pair beautifully with sterling silver; warmer overtones tend to sing next to gold-filled pieces.

Freshwater vs. Akoya vs. Tahitian vs. South Sea Pearls

Freshwater pearls are cultivated in mussels, mostly in Chinese freshwater lakes and ponds. They're the most widely available and affordable option, come in a huge range of shapes and colors, and modern freshwater pearls can reach very high luster — the quality gap with saltwater pearls has narrowed enormously over the last two decades.

Akoya pearls are saltwater pearls from Japan and China, prized for their consistently round shape and sharp, mirror-like luster. They tend to run smaller (typically 6–8mm) and command a higher price point than freshwater.

Tahitian pearls are naturally dark — ranging from charcoal to peacock green to deep aubergine — and are cultivated in French Polynesia. They're a striking choice for anyone wanting something outside the classic white-pearl look.

South Sea pearls are the largest and among the most valuable pearls, cultivated in Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Their size and thick nacre give them a warm, almost glowing luster.

For most everyday and gift jewelry, freshwater pearls offer the best balance of quality, versatility, and price — which is why they're the pearl we reach for most often in made-to-order pieces.

How to Check Pearl Quality Before You Buy

1. Roll it gently between your fingers. Genuine pearls often have very slight surface irregularities and a faint gritty texture, while imitation pearls tend to feel perfectly smooth and glassy.
2. Check the drill hole. On a genuine pearl, the nacre coating is usually visible at the hole; imitation pearls often reveal a solid bead underneath.
3. Compare luster in natural light, not just under a store's warm lighting.
4. Ask about the source — a maker who can tell you where and how a pearl was cultivated is a good sign they're paying attention to quality throughout.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are freshwater pearls real pearls?

Yes. Freshwater pearls are genuine, cultured pearls grown inside mussels, not imitations. They differ from saltwater pearls (Akoya, Tahitian, South Sea) in the mollusk and environment used to grow them, not in authenticity.

What is the most important factor in pearl quality?

Luster — the sharpness and brightness of light reflected from the pearl's surface — is generally considered the most important quality factor, ahead of size, shape, or color.

Do pearls need special care?

Yes. Pearls are softer than most gemstones and can be damaged by perfume, lotion, and sweat. Apply cosmetics before putting on pearl jewelry, wipe pearls with a soft cloth after wearing, and store them separately from other jewelry to avoid scratching.

What's the difference between a real pearl and a fake one?

Genuine pearls have subtle surface irregularities and a visible nacre layer at the drill hole, while imitation pearls are typically perfectly smooth glass or plastic beads coated to look pearlescent.

Un. even designs pearl jewelry in Venice, California — sketched, sourced, and hand-finished to order.