Can You Wear Pearls in the Shower? We Tried—Here’s the Damage

Short answer: You can, but you shouldn’t do it regularly. Pearls survive an occasional quick rinse, but daily showers will dull the nacre, foul the string, and speed up clasp corrosion. I tested a pearl necklace in a typical shower routine and tracked what changed over a month. Here’s exactly what happened and why.

What pearls are and why they’re fragile

Pearls are layers of calcium carbonate (aragonite) held together by an organic protein called conchiolin. That layered structure — the nacre — gives pearls their luster. Because nacre is essentially a soft mineral combined with organic glue, it reacts to chemicals, abrasives, heat, and rough handling. That’s why pearls behave very differently from diamonds or even gold.

The experiment — how I tested shower wear

I wore a 7–8 mm Akoya pearl necklace on three different schedules over four weeks:

• Control: stored in a soft pouch, worn occasionally (baseline).
• Occasional shower: worn through the shower twice a week.
• Daily shower: worn in the shower every day for 30 days.

After each stage I photographed the necklace in daylight, inspected for surface changes, checked knot strength and flexibility, and examined the clasp for tarnish. I also noted residues from soap, conditioner, body oil and hard water.

What I saw, week by week

• After 1 shower: No visible damage. A slight soapy film could be wiped off with a soft cloth. Reason: a single exposure usually only deposits residue; it does not chemically alter thicker nacre immediately.
• After 1 week (daily showers): A faint, cloudy film built up between pearls and on the surface. Knots on the silk string began to darken from shampoo and body oil. The clasp showed the first signs of dulling if it was silver or plated. Why: repeated exposure deposits soaps, oils and minerals. Soaps can leave an alkaline film; oils attract dirt, and minerals from hard water form films.
• After 1 month (daily showers): Noticeable dulling of luster, especially on pearls with thinner nacre. The silk string was noticeably darker and slightly stiff. Knots loosened somewhat, and the clasp exhibited surface corrosion or plating wear. In one case the surface showed tiny pits where harsh shampoos and hard water combined with heat and mechanical rubbing. Why: chemical exposure and abrasion remove the ultra-fine outer layers of nacre and degrade conchiolin, which reduces sheen and adhesion between layers.

Why shower conditions damage pearls

Pearls are vulnerable for several specific reasons:

• Chemicals: Shampoos, conditioners, body washes and soaps contain surfactants, salts, alkalines, and enzymes. These can break down conchiolin, the organic “glue” that holds nacre layers together. Over time that makes the surface less reflective.
• Chlorine and municipal disinfectants: Even low levels of chlorine in tap water (routine municipal residuals of roughly 0.2–4 ppm) can dull nacre and damage metal findings. Pools with free chlorine (1–3 ppm) are far worse.
• Hard water minerals: Calcium and magnesium leave a film that reduces shine and requires cleaning to remove. Scrubbing to remove that film can abrade nacre.
• Heat and steam: Repeated exposure to warm, humid conditions can relax and stretch silk thread. Silk is protein, and protein plus heat plus moisture breaks down faster.
• Mechanical abrasion: Rubbing and shampooing causes tiny scratches on the soft nacre. Over time those scratches scatter light and dull the pearl.

Types of pearls and relative resistance

• Akoya: Typically 7–8 mm with nacre thickness around 0.2–0.5 mm. Lovely luster but more prone to wear because nacre layers are thinner.
• Freshwater: Often thicker nacre or almost entirely nacre. More forgiving of everyday bumps, but still harmed by chemicals and bad cleaning.
• Tahitian & South Sea: Larger pearls with thicker nacre (often 0.5–1.5 mm or more). More durable long-term, but still vulnerable to surface film and string damage.

Clasp and metal issues

Clasp metal matters. Sterling silver tarnishes faster when exposed to sulfur compounds in some shampoos and hot water minerals. Gold alloys with more copper content (lower-karat gold) will discolor sooner. Plated metals and rhodium plating can wear off with repeated soap and abrasion. That leaves raw base metal exposed and can look uneven next to pearls.

Practical rules and maintenance

• Don’t make showers a habit: An occasional rinse is OK. Wearing pearls in every shower will shorten their life. Why: cumulative chemical, thermal and mechanical damage.
• Rinse after exposure: If they get soap on them, rinse with plain freshwater and pat dry with a soft cloth. This removes residues that cause dulling.
• Dry flat: Lay the strand flat to dry before storing. Hanging wet pearls stretches the silk and weakens knots.
• Avoid harsh cleaners: No ultrasonic cleaners, steam, bleach, ammonia, or polish dips. Use mild soap and water only for light cleaning and a soft cloth to polish.
• Restring interval: If you wear a pearl strand regularly (several times a week), have it restrung every 6–12 months with proper silk and knots. Occasional wear means 1–2 years is fine.
• Storage: Store pearls in a soft cloth pouch or lined box away from other jewelry that can scratch them. Keep them in moderate humidity — extremely dry conditions can make silk brittle.

Bottom line

Pearls tolerate a short, occasional trip through the shower. They do not tolerate daily showers. Repeated exposure leaves a film, dulls luster, weakens silk, and corrodes clasps. If you value your pearls for long-term wear, remove them before shampooing, conditioner or baths. If you do wear them in the shower, rinse, dry flat, and plan on more frequent maintenance and restringing.