Finding a lovely antique jewellery piece can be a real treat! And the moment you saw it, you knew it had to be yours. You would want to take this fabulous vintage or antique jewelry home and wear it with different outfits or proudly display it in your house.
Vintage and antique jewellery may gleam and shine when you first bring them home, but they must be cared for and maintained to keep their original beauty. Once or twice a month, cleaning your vintage and antique jewelry once or twice a month will keep it looking as good as new.
Cleaning antique jewellery presents many difficulties. But don’t worry, we are here with excellent tips and do’s and don’t on how to clean antique jewelry. Use these tips for cleaning antique jewelry next time you want to make your favorite treasures sparkle!
How to clean antique gold jewellery?
Gold jewellery is classified as pure gold or gold alloy. Pure gold is 24-carat gold; if the piece is less than 24 karats, it will be combined with other alloys to boost its hardness and endurance. Be careful when cleaning gold to prevent fragile antique pieces from being malformed or breaking down.
Tips for Cleaning Antique Gold Jewellery at Home:
- Rinse the antique gold jewellery under warm water: Dirt and dust can accumulate in the microscopic cracks of gold jewellery over time. When antique gold jewellery is cleaned underwater, it softens, melt any built-up residue between stones, under prongs, and can be readily wiped away. Make sure to place your jewellery in a small strainer and then rinse it with warm water.
- Scrub the antique gold jewellery carefully with a toothbrush: Now that any dust or grime is soft enough to brush off, the rest of the process is done with a gentle brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
- In case itβs still not clean: Instead of being rough with gold, use a tiny amount of mild dish soap to the unclean area and gently wipe the soap onto the jewellery with a delicate cloth.
- Make it shine: After all of the dirt has been removed, it’s time to bring back that original golden shine. Gently rub the jewellery with a soft rouge-impregnated cloth until perfect.
How to clean antique diamond jewellery?
Diamonds are costly, so always double-check that the stones are secure before cleaning. Even though you’ll be working lightly, you don’t want to displaced or loosened any stones. If you discover loose stones, get your antique jewellery fixed by a jeweller. When you are cleaning your diamond jewellery, make sure you never work over an open sink. Cleaning a diamond ring in a bowl of water is excellent, but you must never drain the water away until every piece has been counted.
Tips for Cleaning Antique Diamond Jewellery at Home:
- Dip the antique diamond in warm soapy water: Dirt, dust and grease of any kind can gradually accumulate on the diamond surface, which makes the stone increasingly duller. You may not realise it at the time, but antique diamond jewellery nearly always requires cleaning.
- Brush with a soft toothbrush: After dipping the antique diamond jewellery in warm soapy water, brush the diamonds gently in warm soapy water until it shines. To avoid damage from loose threads, never use a cloth on a diamond; instead, use a soft toothbrush or artist’s brush.
- Recheck the stones: Because diamonds can quickly become loosened while cleaning, always rinses the ring and double-check that every stone is present before discarding any water.
How to clean antique silver jewellery?
Although highly polished antique silver jewelry is one of the most beautiful things to see, antique silver can easily get tarnished or dull over time. This precious metal is easy to clean and far more durable than gold, though not impregnable. If you frequently have to clean your antique silver jewellery, it may be more convenient to keep the silver jewellery next to your skin rather than surrounded by acid-free paper or in their box.
Tips for Cleaning Antique Silver Jewellery at Home:
- Rub the antique silver jewellery with a soft cloth: Silver that has been lightly rusted can be quickly renewed with a fast rub, but silver that has been extensively eroded may require more effort.
- Polish silver antique jewelry with a silver cleaning solution: Most large shops or jewellers carry various silver cleaning solutions, which may be smeared over the material, left for a few moments, and then polished off with a soft cloth.
How to clean antique pearl jewellery?
Antique pearls jewellery is complicated to clean. They lose their lustre over time due to their porous nature. Ensure that you keep pearls away from perfume, hairspray, nail polish remover, makeup, and facial moisturizers.
Tips for Cleaning Antique Pearl Jewellery at Home:
- Apply a light cleaning mix to the antique pearl jewellery: Although pearls should always be cleaned separately from other jewellery, the procedure is very similar. Put pearls on a soft cloth and clean them carefully using a delicate brush dipped in dishwashing liquid or homemade jewellery cleaner. Use makeup brush as pearls don’t react well to makeup, and make sure brush is clean.
- Rub each pearl individually: Take your time to wipe away the solution from each pearl delicately. After that, tap the pearls down with a moist, gentle cloth. Then, to dry the pearls, place them on a clean, soft towel.
Conclusion
It can be not easy to clean antique jewellery as it is to admire, but the magnificence of each piece is well worth the effort. We hope these tips would be helpful for you. But if you still find some difficulties, you can come to us. We are always happy to help you.
Also read: 6 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE BUYING AN ANTIQUE ENGAGEMENT RING
