Cleaning and Care of Vintage Costume Jewelry
Since vintage costume jewelry is obviously not new, there are some special guidelines needed to help preserve their beauty and longevity.
Here are some tips:
Rhinestones:
- be gentle and use only mild cleaning solutions
- use any liquid sparingly and thoroughly dry the piece when finished
- never put vintage jewelry directly into any cleaning solution or liquid
- a soft toothbrush can be used to loosen dirt is necessary
- use a soft cloth to polish and clean
Many glass rhinestones have coatings and foil backings that add sparkle
and color but need extra care when cleaning. Excessive moisture can cause the foil backings to darken or
peel. Some coatings can be scratched easily and need to be handled with care.
Sometimes there is an excessive build up of oils, perfumes and hairspray on a piece of jewelry. A small amount of glass cleaner on a cotton swab can really make the stones sparkle. Again if there are coatings proceed carefully.
Claws and Settings
- check the piece of jewelry first for claws that may not be in place by running your finger over the stones. It is usually an easy process to return the prong or claw to its proper position. You do not want to catch your cloth and damage them permanently.
- do not over-polish a piece of jewelry or remove the natural patina of vintage or antique jewelry - you want to remove only the dust and dirt and preserve it's value. This is especially true for antique silver jewelry.
Settings and Platings
Costume jewelry is often made from a plated base metals. Chemical metal polishes and cleaners should not be used as they may well remove the finish completely. Again, use a mild detergent and soft brush or cloth to clean.
Verdigris
If a piece of jewelry has been exposed to excessive moisture over time, green deposits may form on the finish. Verdigris is an oxidation and corrosion of the plating. Removing it as soon as discovered is important to minimize damage. It is best to try and remove the green deposits with a small brush or toothpick. If you are not able to remove it all there are a few treatments you can use as a last resort. Many have recommended applying lemon juice, vinegar or ketchup because of their acidic content. I have used ketchup with success. Be careful not to touch any surrounding stones. Apply with a cotton swab or toothpick to the affected area and leave on for several hours. When you remove the solution the verdigris should be gone and if you have caught it early not too much of the plating.
A word about Hairspray and Perfumes
Always apply hairsprays and perfumes before putting on your vintage costume jewelry. Exposure to the ingredients in both may cause damage to settings and stones.
Storage
- store your gems in soft cotton jewelry pouches to avoid bumps and scratching
- store separately, again to avoid scratching and also tangles
- away from heat and excessive moisture
- avoid storing in oak jewel boxes which release fumes that are damaging to your precious costume jewels
- store all celluloid plastic jewelry separately as it also emits fumes that are highly damaging to costume jewelry and other plastics
It is possible to care for and preserve your vintage and antique jewelry for future generations to enjoy!
Vintage and Antique Jewelry Research Information
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