A Few Simple Steps for Cleaning Antique Jewelry

If that piece of antique jewelry were just a littlemounting materials such as glue and run the risk of
cleaner, wouldn't you wear it more often? But thelosing the gems from your piece.
idea of taking chemicals or some other cleaner toIf the primary problem is dust, you can simply use a
your grandmother's broche is just something youvery soft toothbrush to clean your piece of antique
don't want to deal with. What sorts of materials arejewelry. Use the softest toothbrush you can find,
safe for cleaning and what should be avoided? Areand of course make sure there is no toothpaste
there any special tips or procedures I should follow?residue left on the bristles. A brand new toothbrush,
These are the questions this article will answer, andset aside for cleaning your older pieces of jewelry,
when you've finished reading you'll be bettermight be the safest bet.
equipped to take out that piece of antique jewelryA very important step in cleaning any piece of
and wear it with pride.antique jewelry is ensuring it is thoroughly dried when
As you might guess, it is important to read the labelyou're finished with it. Keep moisture and dampness
of any cleaning solution you intend to use on youraway from stored jewelry also, since dampness is a
piece of antique jewelry. It is important to make sureculprit who encourages verdigris, rust, pitting of
the cleaning solution doesn't contain ammonia,plated metals, and other damaging conditions.
vinegar, or any other acids or alcohols. TheseSo there you have a quick rundown on the care and
chemicals might harm the finish of your antiquecleaning of your antique jewelry. Of course, if you're
jewelry. They could also damage any stones orstill a little gun shy about damaging a piece from
materials used to mount the stones. But it's not justcleaning, you could always take it to a professional
chemicals you have to watch out for.jeweler to have it cleaned. Remember it is important
Although the old standby of good old soap andthat you don't do anything to modify a piece of
water might be good for some cleaning situations, itantique jewelry, since doing so could drastically
isn't the best choice for cleaning your piece ofdecrease its value as a collectible.
antique jewelry. Soaps can leave a residue on yourWouldn't your grandmother be proud if she could see
jewelry, making the metal look flat and the stonesher antique broche all spruced up and ready for a
look dull. Aside from that, the water might dissolvenight on the town?