| Have you a collection of Vintage Jewellery or antique | | | | are of different carats. |
| Jewellery, perhaps you have just one or two piece? | | | | 5. Wear pieces carefully |
| These precious gems need special care and attention. | | | | I suggest that you do not wear your vintage and |
| Here is my top ten tips for caring for them. | | | | antique jewellery every day to keep it at its best. |
| 1. Inventory of your vintage jewellery | | | | This would especially apply to rings. Necklaces, |
| Vintage Jewellery can be valuable, is difficult to | | | | brooches and earrings are all subject to wear and so |
| replace and often has sentimental meaning to its | | | | are perhaps best kept for special occasions. Or why |
| owner. If you have an inventory of your jewellery | | | | not just have several pieces and rotate them so no |
| you will be at least be able to insure in case of loss, | | | | one piece gets too much wear? |
| damage or burglary. Keep all your receipts from when | | | | 6. Take care with storage |
| you purchase your jewellery, take a photograph or | | | | You vintage jewellery should be stored carefully - |
| two of each piece as well. Jewellery is very difficult | | | | each piece should be separated from the next by lint |
| to photograph clearly but even a bad photo is better | | | | free cloth or acid free tissue. If stored together in a |
| than nothing. Are there any makers markings or | | | | box pieces will scratch and rub each other. |
| hallmarks? Copy these down which will help to find a | | | | 7. Choose your jeweller carefully |
| replacement if necessary. Also note down the size of | | | | If you take a piece to be services or repaired take |
| each piece. | | | | care when selecting your jeweller. Not every high |
| 2. Check the condition regularly | | | | street jewellery is experienced with vintage gems. |
| Jewellery should be checked fairly regularly to ensure | | | | Ask around first - you need someone with specialist |
| that there is no wear. The settings on rings become | | | | knowledge so as not to destroy the piece or its |
| worn and you can loose a stone, strings of beads or | | | | value. |
| pearls wear and you could loose some precious | | | | 8. Do have pieces restored if necessary |
| stones if attention is not paid to the wear before it | | | | So the worst has happened, your vintage ring has |
| becomes to late. If you do not know what to look | | | | lost a stone, a clasp on a necklace is broken or the |
| for take the piece to your jeweller who will give your | | | | pin on a brooch. It is worth taking the time and |
| precious antiques a health check. | | | | expense to have a good piece of vintage jewellery |
| 3. Keep your vintage jewellery clean | | | | repaired but see point 7 and ensure this is done |
| Make sure you do not get perfume and make up | | | | correctly. |
| onto your vintage jewellery. This will tarnish or | | | | 9. Buy a Jewellers loupe |
| discolour your pieces. You can clean your jewels | | | | If you are buying lots of vintage and antique |
| occasionally but check that you are using the right | | | | jewellery I suggest that you get a jewellers loupe ( a |
| method of cleaning for they materials and dont clean | | | | special x10 magnifying glass) this really does help to |
| off any of the finish. Gold gilt will wear off as will | | | | examine pieces up close. And learn how the loup |
| paint and lacquer. | | | | properly. |
| 4. Wear pieces seperately | | | | 10.Learn about your jewellery |
| If you wear more than one item of vintage jewellery | | | | If you don't know what you've got ask an expert, |
| at a time please do keep them separate as the | | | | buy a book or look it up on the internet. If you have |
| pieces will wear against each other. For example two | | | | a very special piece I might take a look for you for |
| rings worn on the same finger especially if the golds | | | | you see my contact details below. |