| How to clean your vintage jewelry? The methods | | | | than a Q-tip can provide. |
| should vary according to the piece. If it consists | | | | A soft bristled toothbrush often will work quite well. |
| entirely of metal (such as a gold chain or silver | | | | No toothpaste - only water or foamy soapsuds. |
| brooch) - then I would highly recommend purchasing | | | | Never use an old toothbrush. Toothpaste is abrasive |
| an ultrasonic cleaner. There are many different | | | | and there may be remnants left on the brush. Some |
| models out there and most recommend using their | | | | pieces may need even more assistance to get the |
| cleaning solution which of course provides the | | | | dirt and grime out of the recessed areas. Before |
| manufacturer a never ending income. | | | | scraping - try to restore that wonderful sheen lost |
| We found a very nice unit that can be used with | | | | over the years. Some experts suggest using a dental |
| distilled or tap water and or distilled/tap water with a | | | | pick against metal - we recommend a gentler |
| drop or two of dish washing liquid. It does a | | | | approach. |
| wonderful job! But beware! This type of cleaning is | | | | Any superstore or pharmacy should sell dental floss |
| not suitable for all jewelry. If your jewelry has stones | | | | sticks - usually a C shaped head with dental floss |
| attached then you must carefully evaluate the | | | | stretched tight across the C and a handle that comes |
| stones, settings and overall condition, Soft materials | | | | into a nice thin point. The added benefit of these is |
| such as pearls; opals, coral and others will be | | | | you can use them for their intended purpose and |
| damaged by the ultrasonic waves! | | | | then set them aside and use them for those tiny |
| We never submerge any stones that have a foil | | | | little areas of your precious treasures. Healthy gums |
| backing. If the stones are not prong set then be | | | | and jewelry for the same price! |
| aware that the glue may break loose and the stone | | | | Patina - What is patina? It's the green gunk you |
| stones may become loose. Be prepared to re-glue | | | | might see on your vintage jewelry. Either the plating |
| the stones and always, always check the strainer | | | | was poorly done - it might have been damaged at |
| basket, water and piece cleaned before throwing out | | | | some point in time and this green almost algae like |
| the water used! | | | | growth has occurred. What can you do to repair this? |
| You will probably want to have some good slow | | | | Have the item re-plated is about the only solution. |
| drying glue designed for jewelry available. We have | | | | Sometimes it works - sometimes it causes more |
| had good success with UHU twist and glue. Do not | | | | problems than it solves. The problem with patina is |
| use the new fast drying glues. You have no margin | | | | that the item is already damaged the integrity of this |
| of error when placing the stones and their | | | | lovely item. The plating is already damaged. It has |
| composition is hard on foil backing. Clean up should | | | | been eaten away and the patina is a rust like or |
| you place too much glue in the setting is near | | | | cancerous material on your treasure. Sometimes, it |
| impossible! | | | | can actually accent the item. |
| After the ultrasonic bath - we recommend placing | | | | As a general rule though - patina is not desirable on |
| the freshly cleaned jewelry on a soft towel and then | | | | jewelry. Some will try to remove it with a pencil |
| taking your hand held hair dryer and gently drying the | | | | eraser (our personal preference). Some will try |
| piece. Be careful not to cook the piece! Gently dry | | | | vinegar on a cue tip or even catsup applied with a |
| and then leave it out in a warm dry area. We usually | | | | cue tip for about five minutes. The advantage of the |
| dry a piece or pieces, let it sit for an hour or so and | | | | catsup is that it should stay where applied and should |
| then dry it again. We always let a piece sit out (on a | | | | not affect the other areas. It does have a vinegar |
| different towel) for several days before storing. | | | | (acidic base) that will devour the green "cancer". The |
| Moisture can be very devastating to your prized | | | | ultrasonic cleaner will also remove this growth. BUT, |
| pieces! | | | | you have not cured anything. |
| As we discussed - some pieces are not suitable for | | | | The piece has had damage. You have removed a |
| the ultrasonic cleaner. For these pieces, we | | | | never healing scab and it will surely re-appear. The |
| recommend the basic cleaning with Q-tips and clean | | | | metal plating is gone forever. The surface has been |
| water. On some occasions, we will use the suds from | | | | damaged! Each time you clean it to remove the |
| dishwashing solution. Jewelry that has rhinestones | | | | growth - you have removed a little more of the |
| with foil backing should never be submerged. | | | | existing plating. |
| The moisture can seep between the stone and the | | | | Some recommend cleaning and drying thoroughly and |
| foil and leave dark spots or even destroy the foil | | | | then coating with a clear coating such as fingernail |
| entirely. It can also serve to help loosen the glue. Be | | | | polish. Beware though - should you choose this |
| very careful and always dry your jewelry after | | | | method - it will probably bond to the other plating |
| cleaning. Even when just using a damp Q-tip. | | | | and should it suffer an injury or you try to clean |
| These fortunate pieces have survived decades and | | | | again - you may end up removing even more of the |
| are now entrusted to you and your care. Please | | | | plating. Be very careful. |
| treat them accordingly. You now own a piece of | | | | Although this jewelry is well designed and crafted - it |
| history so please take the time to treat it as such. If | | | | was never expected to last his long. It was designed |
| we should be caught out in the rain or a damp night - | | | | for an event or perhaps even a season or two. Yet |
| my lovely wife will dry her treasured vintage jewelry | | | | now, it is an ever increasing investment! |
| upon our return. This jewelry has survived upwards | | | | You have a piece of history and artwork that if |
| to fifty years and beyond. Now, YOU are its worst | | | | treated accordingly - will last for many more years |
| enemy or best friend. | | | | and become either a heirloom or retirement asset. Or |
| Some pieces may require a more intensive cleaning | | | | junk - your choice! |