The Pearls sound lovely Kay! You probably already know not to clean pearls or jewellery with chemicals or abrasives. Simply wash the pearls with warm water and neutral soap, (I use Q-tips to clean around the end of each pearl near the bead hole) and spread them out on a flat surface for at least 48 hours so that the thread can dry out properly. Not in direct sunlight.
All Pearls need special care to preserve them when not in use. It is advisable to keep them in their case, separate from other jewellery or other metallic objects. Jewelry fabric cases provide protection if you are traveling with jewelry.You can also find traveling with jewelry tips in the above link.
FYI - a 17" triple–strand simulated pearl necklace was Jackie Kennedy's signature piece. Jackie had many sets of pearls besides this one. The set she wore and enjoyed the most was the triple row classic pearl design but the three lengths were not uniformly set, and there is a larger space between the inner strand and the other two. The reason for this space was so she could wear the pearls in the manner of Coco Chanel.
