Restoring Luster to Damaged Pearls: What You Need to Know

Question
QUESTION: I'm ashamed to admit this but I cleaned a sterling silver and pearl necklace in a commercial jewelry cleaner.  Needless to say, I ruined the pearls which now have absolutely no luster.  I'm pretty upset about this.  Is there any way to "undo" this damage?
Thanks for you help.

ANSWER: Shari,

Are these natural or cultured pearls?  If so I am curious to how a cleaner could take the shine off.  The only thing I can think of is buff them to bring back the luster.  What kind of chemicals or soap is in your ultra sonic cleaner?  It may have etched the pearls.  Or if you are lucky it just left a film on them which would buff off easily.

I will ask my jeweler clients about this.

Regards,

Steven D.Covey

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Steven,
Thanks so much for your response.  I am not sure what kind of pearls they are. Do I just buff them with a soft cloth.  The cleaner that I used was a jar cleaner that I purchased at a jewelry counter (for sterling silver).  It did have an ammonia like smell to it. It shined the silver but left the pearls dull and awful looking. Thanks, again.

Answer
Hello again,

Apparently it is possible to restore the luster by buffing as I said.
You need to have a jeweler use his buffing machine they use to polish gold rings with.  Most jewelers have a buffing compound called Zam which is used to polish plastic watch crystals or silver jewelry with turquoise. Some watches are glass and some are plastic and get scratched.  Any way they would have to buff and polish each and every pearl.  You may have to restring after this, but maybe not it just depends on how it goes.

I hope this helps you.

Good Luck,

Steven D.Covey