Recently updated on October 25th, 2022 at 11:29 am
Traditionally, people have worn jewelry to express their power and social status. Knowing how to clean vintage jewelry will make you stand out for your style.
Nowadays, people wear jewelry to boost their self-esteem and feel more elegant. Nothing looks or feels more elegant than wearing clean vintage jewelry.
Vintage jewelry takes any outfit to the next level. You deserve to enjoy your jewelry to the fullest extent. Cleaning it will empower you to do just that.
Here are five tips for cleaning vintage jewelry.
1. Have Realistic Expectations
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Before you clean vintage jewelry, please understand that it’s not going to look as shiny as it was in its youth. In fact, vintage jewelry’s classic elegance is largely due to its aged appearance.
Removing dirt, dust, grime, bacteria, etc. is a good goal for cleaning. However, going overboard with cleaning will remove a piece’s patina as well as its character.
2. Get a Gentle Solution for Cleaning
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Knowing how to clean antique jewelry means picking out a gentle cleaning solution from a reputable brand. Purchase a product that’s specifically designed to gently clean vintage and antique jewelry.
Age aside, always choose a product that fits your jewelry’s metal and stone type. For instance, Sparkle Bright works on delicate vintage jewelry made out of all precious metals. This includes gold, silver, platinum, and more.
Plus, Sparkle Bright comes with a small detail brush. This helps you accomplish this next tip:
3. Complete the Pre-Cleaning Process
When you clean heirloom jewelry, you must remove all dirt, dust, residue, and other small particles. Only after that are you able to use a cleaning solution. A soft toothbrush will remove the bits of dust and debris you can’t see.
Once that’s done, apply your cleaning solution to a soft cloth. Then gently rub the antique jewelry piece until it looks clean. If a piece has tiny crevices you can’t reach, use a q-tip.
4. Be Super Gentle With Gold
Real gold is malleable and soft. In fact, the more carats gold has, the softer its jewelry it’ll be. That’s why you need to be extra gentle when you’re cleaning estate jewelry made out of gold.
Gently rinse gold jewelry under warm water. The water will soften dirt and grime, making both easy to brush off with a toothbrush.
Whatever you do, never forget the following step:
5. Completely Dry Off Your Jewelry
Moisture is antique jewelry’s worst enemy. If any water gets stuck in your jewelry, it could cause damage. Always make sure you fully dry off any vintage jewelry piece you clean.
Here’s a jewelry cleaning hack: Flip your freshly cleaned jewelry upside down and put it on a paper towel. That way, gravity will drive all of the moisture out of it.
Learning How to Clean Vintage Jewelry Will Transform Your Style
In the United States, an online jewelry and watch sales will reach $7.6 billion in 2021. Because of this, more people will be learning how to clean vintage jewelry than ever.
The most valuable gemstones on Earth are Tanzanite, Ruby, and Black Opal. Be extra careful if you’re cleaning vintage jewelry that contains any of these gemstones.
Enjoy living—check out more of our lifestyle articles. It’ll upgrade your lifestyle quicker than anything else will.
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