| If you have a collection of antique jewelry you will be | | | | jewelry regains its original sparkle just by rubbing it |
| well aware that it needs your attention periodically. | | | | with a soft cloth. |
| Here are a few helpful hints to keep your jewelry | | | | If you find that your antique silver jewelry has |
| sparkling. | | | | tarnished heavily, use a store-bought silver cleaning |
| First, try to understand the nature of metals so that | | | | solution to clean it. Most silver cleaning creams and |
| you can figure out the process for cleaning them. | | | | fluids need you to apply them on the silver and then |
| Gold is not prone to corrosion, flaking or any kind of | | | | polish using a soft cloth. These cleaning solutions |
| weathering. It retains its shine over very long periods | | | | contain a protective coating that stays on the silver |
| of time. Silver does not lose it shape over time but it | | | | and protects it from tarnishing further. If your |
| can get tarnished when exposed to air. | | | | jewelry is silver plated make sure you do not rub too |
| Gold jewelry does not need any fancy cleaning agent. | | | | vigorously else the plating will wear away. |
| Just use warm soapy water to clean your antique | | | | Antique gemstone jewelry is always prone to the |
| gold jewelry. If the jewelry is studded with stones, | | | | gemstones slipping out. This is why such jewelry |
| take a used soft toothbrush and use it for cleaning | | | | should be placed in a bowl while cleaning it. Never |
| the areas that are indented. Most gold jewelry that is | | | | clean such jewelry in the sink. Use an old soft |
| made of 18 carats or of a higher grade does not | | | | toothbrush and warm soapy water to remove all |
| corrode or tarnish even when exposed to household | | | | traces of grime and dirt between the indentations |
| cleaning agents. However, jewelry made of lower | | | | and crevices of rings. You can safely use this method |
| grade gold can get affected by household chemicals. | | | | for diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires and most |
| When you store silver jewelry, wrap it up in acid-free | | | | other gemstones. Avoid using fabric to clean such |
| paper and keep it away in a moisture free place. | | | | jewelry as it can get caught between the gaps and |
| Never wrap up silver in newspaper as the printing ink | | | | weaken the grip of claws that hold the gemstone in |
| leaves a stain behind on the metal. Silver that has | | | | place. |
| been stored normally requires a polish. Most silver | | | | |