Cleaning and Maintaining Antique Jewelry

There is nothing more precious than a family heirloom. Those individuals who own a beautiful antique ring, which has been passed down through the generations should count themselves blessed. Antique jewelry is becoming more and more uncommon. There is no going back once an item has been lost, damaged, or destroyed. If you have antique jewelry, it is important to keep it clean and well maintained.

Cleaning your jewelry

The first step in cleaning any piece of vintage jewelry is picking out a proper cleaning solution. DO NOT pick out a solution that contains alcohol, acids, or ammonia. These chemicals can damage many types of metals, and that is the last thing you want. There are many types of jewelry cleaners available on the market. When buying one, make sure it is intended to be used on the exact type of metal you will be cleaning. Before you clean the piece, make sure it is free of dust and dirt. When cleaning, use a soft cloth. Do not spray cleaner directly at the piece, rather spray it on the cloth.

Storing your jewelry

Properly storing your jewelry is the best way to keep it well maintained. Moisture, dust, and temperature change are all enemies of vintage jewelry. You need a storage method that will minimize each of these factors. There is even more to consider! Did you know that Oak gives of subtle fumes which have been known to damage vintage jewelry? It is important to keep items from scratching one another if you are storing more than 1 piece of jewelry. Soft cloth pouches are an excellent location for storage, while Ziploc bags are another good alternative. 

If you keep your vintage jewelry clean and properly stored, there is no reason it can’t be passed through many generations to come!