How Do You Store Your Pearls? Show Us!

[jshepherd]

Wow! That's some serious organization!

 

[MotherOfPearlTrumpet]

Yeah, too organized for my own good. Part of that OCD musician brain.

 

[CathyKeshi]

Wow, MotherofTrumpet, I am so impressed! I've stuck with my little quilted cotton pouches, but sometimes it is hard to remember what's in which pouch LOL. I like that each of your pouches is similar size, easy to stack in those containers; brilliant. Ditto to the record keeping, that's awesome. My daughter did ask me a while back "Mom, should you be telling me what's valuable, special, unique, museum worthy" etc. etc. etc. My answer to her was "Keep and wear what you love, and share the rest with those we love; that will be good enough for me." She is the same (science university librarian) minimalist who looked at me sideways in a shop and smiled "We buy our clothes now to go with our pearls Mom ???" Well doesn't everyone????

 

[MotherOfPearlTrumpet]

Wow, MotherofTrumpet, I am so impressed! I've stuck with my little quilted cotton pouches, but sometimes it is hard to remember what's in which pouch LOL. I like that each of your pouches is similar size, easy to stack in those containers; brilliant. Ditto to the record keeping, that's awesome. My daughter did ask me a while back "Mom, should you be telling me what's valuable, special, unique, museum worthy" etc. etc. etc. My answer to her was "Keep and wear what you love, and share the rest with those we love; that will be good enough for me." She is the same (science university librarian) minimalist who looked at me sideways in a shop and smiled "We buy our clothes now to go with our pearls Mom ???" Well doesn't everyone????

Hilarious! Of course we buy clothing to match our pearls!!! It narrows down those racks and racks into a more manageable range of selection. Actually I really laugh because I wear expensive pearls and buy my clothing at Marshalls, TJMax and Ross. There is definitely a little disconnect there but a girl has her priorities.

 

[jshepherd]

You've got you priorities straight!

 

[CathyKeshi]

MotherOfPearlTrumpet ... Well of course! Doesn't everyone? More money for pearls

 

[CortezPearls]

I hear ya! I probably spent more on pearls this year than on clothing!

 

[linda.wald]

I like to go to thrift stores for clothing, since I find some neat things there. Not so much in the way of pearls there, though...

 

[MotherOfPearlTrumpet]

I like to go to thrift stores for clothing, since I find some neat things there. Not so much in the way of pearls there, though...

My mother volunteers at a big "rich" thrift store in a high-end part of Houston. She is always bringing pearls home for me to test for her. Every once and a while we find a "real" strand but those go back to be sold either online or in their "boutique." I once found a nice South Sea strand at Goodwill of San Francisco. I know they didn't know what they had, because I picked it up for such a great price. That's the thrill of bargains. Most times it's junk, but every once in a while, it is something truly valuable. Still, the fun is in the looking.

 

[CortezPearls]

I know this guy...he basically gets offers to "clean houses" when the owners have passed and their children don't want to do it for whatever reason. He goes there with a crew, they select the usable stuff from the junk, and separate them...does research and then sells everything.
We met because he needed help with pearls. He has found many Akoya and FWP necklaces over time, but one he came upon a really nice SSP necklace and a gorgeous Tahitian pearl necklace.
You never know when the next treasure will find you!

 

[MotherOfPearlTrumpet]

I know this guy...he basically gets offers to "clean houses" when the owners have passed and their children don't want to do it for whatever reason. He goes there with a crew, they select the usable stuff from the junk, and separate them...does research and then sells everything.
We met because he needed help with pearls. He has found many Akoya and FWP necklaces over time, but one he came upon a really nice SSP necklace and a gorgeous Tahitian pearl necklace.
You never know when the next treasure will find you!

That sounds like a job right up my organizational alley. Does he get first dibbs on anything he finds?

 

[Vermontjewel1]

I think your pearl jewelry organization idea is brilliant! Thanks for sharing.

 

[CortezPearls]

That sounds like a job right up my organizational alley. Does he get first dibbs on anything he finds?

He is the owner of the company...so, yes! He once showed me a special collection of ceramic platters from the Biennial Expo from Paris in the late 1800's...he auctioned these for a very good amount of money!
People should really list what they have as valuables and have these printed for their children so they don't toss away these valuable heirlooms. They may not like the items...but they could gain some good money to buy more pearls!

 

[MotherOfPearlTrumpet]

OK, I have one more fun "storage" idea...(Sorry, always a LONG story from me.)
Years ago, when my daughter got her first job and wanted to get me a "real" Christmas present with money she earned on her own, she asked what I wanted. I had found this really cute wall-hanging display box and I thought it would look cute with her High School pictures and some "shabby chic" décor that was really popular about 10 years ago. The styles have changed and the frame ended up in my sewing room. I often thought about how to repurpose it and recently had a brainstorm...What about a jewelry display cabinet for pearls I plan to wear "tomorrow." I store my pearls in folders in a wooden armoire and on the mornings that I am up before my husband, I'm banging around trying to figure out what matches my outfit with a flashlight in the dark. So, my idea was to make a picture frame jewelry display out of that box and put the jewelry I plan to wear "tomorrow" in it so I don't have to search for my choices in the dark (although now, it does require that I plan ahead...we'll see how well that goes).
I disassembled the old backing (cloth and Styrofoam) and purchased one of those corrugated plastic "make your own-stick in the ground" signs and cut it to the correct size. I hot glued a piece of thin dish wrapping foam to the front to provide cushion and wrapped that around the sides. Then I found a piece of lovely fabric left over from making drapes for my daughter's house, which was a nice compliment to both the frame and my bedroom paint color. The last part was the most difficult, finding T-Pulls (cabinet) that would compliment the box style and wouldn't scratch my pearls. Fortunately I found some at Home Depot. I also had to purchase 1/2" screws because the frame's backing was much thinner than the included bolt would accommodate!
The end result turned out so great! I love it, and now both my husband and I can enjoy my "pearls behind glass." Mostly, however, I'm glad to have repurposed this precious gift from my daughter. She loves the jewelry display too (and now wants one just like it for her apartment). My earrings and rings fit nicely on the frame's base shelf below the pearls.

 

[jshepherd]

You create a new piece of pearl art every day! Great repurpose!

 

[JerseyPearl]

OK, I have one more fun "storage" idea...(Sorry, always a LONG story from me.)
Years ago, when my daughter got her first job and wanted to get me a "real" Christmas present with money she earned on her own, she asked what I wanted. I had found this really cute wall-hanging display box and I thought it would look cute with her High School pictures and some "shabby chic" décor that was really popular about 10 years ago. The styles have changed and the frame ended up in my sewing room. I often thought about how to repurpose it and recently had a brainstorm...What about a jewelry display cabinet for pearls I plan to wear "tomorrow." I store my pearls in folders in a wooden armoire and on the mornings that I am up before my husband, I'm banging around trying to figure out what matches my outfit with a flashlight in the dark. So, my idea was to make a picture frame jewelry display out of that box and put the jewelry I plan to wear "tomorrow" in it so I don't have to search for my choices in the dark (although now, it does require that I plan ahead...we'll see how well that goes).
I disassembled the old backing (cloth and Styrofoam) and purchased one of those corrugated plastic "make your own-stick in the ground" signs and cut it to the correct size. I hot glued a piece of thin dish wrapping foam to the front to provide cushion and wrapped that around the sides. Then I found a piece of lovely fabric left over from making drapes for my daughter's house, which was a nice compliment to both the frame and my bedroom paint color. The last part was the most difficult, finding T-Pulls (cabinet) that would compliment the box style and wouldn't scratch my pearls. Fortunately I found some at Home Depot. I also had to purchase 1/2" screws because the frame's backing was much thinner than the included bolt would accommodate!
The end result turned out so great! I love it, and now both my husband and I can enjoy my "pearls behind glass." Mostly, however, I'm glad to have repurposed this precious gift from my daughter. She loves the jewelry display too (and now wants one just like it for her apartment). My earrings and rings fit nicely on the frame's base shelf below the pearls.
View attachment 464230

What a beautiful display case! Functional and pleasing to the eye!

 

[CortezPearls]

I agree! Why store beautiful jewelry away?...best to have it on display to please the Soul!

 

[StevieBoy]

Any suggestions for how to store long ropes? Like 32-44 inch ropes?

Correct me if i’m wrong, but isnt it better to lay the ropes flat, as hanging would stretch the silk?

 

[MotherOfPearlTrumpet]

Any suggestions for how to store long ropes? Like 32-44 inch ropes?

Correct me if i’m wrong, but isnt it better to lay the ropes flat, as hanging would stretch the silk?

I would think that is correct...with that much weight pulling against one pearl connection it might tend to stretch the silk, especially over time. But storing them in a silk bag might also cause scratching as so many pearls would tend to rub against each other. I would suggest a rectangle box with a flat velvet/soft base where you can lay them flat/side-by-side/back and forth, not piled. that way they only touch minimally on the sides and very little chance of scratching. That's how I store my longer strands. Either that way, or coiled like a snail in a pearl envelope where the flaps fold over and the folder holds the pearls in place.

 

[barbaradilek]

I wanted to make my” best” pearls feel at home,so got 3 old Chinese jewellry cabinets to keep them in.