Are you fond of vintage jewellery? Despite the variety of modern fine accessories, many women opt for antique pieces due to their uniqueness, shine, and classy look.
Nevertheless, investing in such a piece means taking proper care of its condition in order to prevent metal and gemstone deterioration. There is a myriad of retail jewellers, such as Vintage Tom, providing a vast assortment of exquisite vintage jewellery.
The tips below will help you take proper care of your antique pieces.
Use a cleaning product that matches the type of metal and stone
Choosing the right cleaning solution is vital for providing the best treatment to your vintage jewellery pieces. The cleaning product you purchase is supposed to deteriorate neither the metal nor the gemstones, as most of these materials are highly susceptible to damage if not cared for properly.
For instance, gold is prone to darkening unless it’s cleaned regularly. The most efficient method of maintaining its shine is by using a combination of ammonia and water. Nevertheless, one has to be particularly attentive in the course of the cleaning process by not leaving ammonia for too long. Otherwise, it’ll deteriorate the metal to a point it can’t be restored to its previous condition.
The same cleaning trick can be applied in the treatment platinum vintage pieces. As long as the jewellery pieces aren’t decorated with gemstones, you can use a dish detergent as a simple cleaning solution. Anyhow, such detergent isn’t recommended for cleaning gemstones due to the potential risk of loosening the stones.
Silver vintage jewellery, on the other hand, is best cleaned with baking soda diluted in water. You are supposed to apply the solution with gentle moves in order to prevent damaging the metal. Keep in mind that silver lacks the strength of platinum and gold to endure harsh cleaning. Click here to check out three effective methods of cleaning silver jewellery at home.
In view of gemstone cleaning, only a handful of gems are strong enough to withstand powerful cleaning solutions, such as ammonia diluted in water. Anyhow, when applying ammonia to sapphires, rubies, and diamonds one is still supposed to be extremely careful not to deteriorate their shiny surface. Perhaps the wisest idea would be purchasing a professional cleaning product, specially designed for the type of stone on your vintage jewellery piece.
In contrast, pearls require no special maintenance as long as you wear them regularly. Believe it or not, the oils produced by your skin are sufficient when it comes to keeping the pearls shiny. Unless the sheen provided by your skin oils doesn’t maintain the lustre you hoped for, you can always use a few drops of olive oil to clean their surface.
Remove dust before applying the solution
Many individuals make the mistake of applying the cleaning product directly to their vintage pieces without dusting them off first. Make sure you use a soft brush to remove the accumulated dust on the surface of your vintage ring, necklace, or earrings even though it’s invisible to the naked eye. A magnifying glass can be really helpful in spotting the dust on the surface.
Furthermore, you are advised to brush the material incredibly gently in order to avoid scratches. Once the jewellery piece is clean from dust, it’s high time to apply the cleaning solution. Put a small amount of the product on a soft cloth and rub the surface with extreme care. The cloth isn’t supposed to be dripping wet but moist.
Dry the pieces
A crucial step in the procedure is getting the jewellery dry once you’re done rubbing its surface with a damp cloth. Not a single drop of water or cleaning solution is supposed to be left on the ring, earrings, or necklace.
Moisture is considered to be an arch-enemy of vintage jewellery, as it’s capable of ruining its shine. Therefore, make sure you dry the ring, earrings, or necklace for at least fifteen minutes and store them safely. The following link, https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-store-fine-jewelry-2043583, includes some practical tips about storing fine jewellery.
Final word
Proper care is indispensable for making your antique jewellery look as good as new.
It’ll help you wear it longer!
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