HOW TO CARE FOR FINE ESTATE JEWELRY AND VINTAGE JEWELRY
WEAR ON ESTATE JEWELRY
Estate jewelry and vintage jewelry when regularly worn, will need regular cleaning to remove the film caused by using lotions, hair spray, cosmetics, soap, and skin oil. Diamonds will especially look dull and their brilliance will not be seen if they are not cleaned frequently and properly.
Remove rings before housework, gardening, playing sports or swimming. Abrupt contact with estate jewelry may result in metal bending, gemstone loss or stone cracking. Though diamondsare a hard stone they are also susceptible to damage from an impact. Diamonds, like other gemstones, may crack, break or chip.
Put jewelry on after dressing, applying hair spray, applying perfumes or using cosmetics. Clothing may get caught in delicate, older pieces causing damage to settings or resulting in the loss of a gemstone. Chemicals and acids present in hair spray, cosmetics or perfume may cause damage or dulling to pearls or gemstones.
Avoid heat when wearing gemstones. Strong heat or sudden temperature changes may cause certain gemstones to crack or fade. Do not wear or store your estate jewelry in direct sunlight. This may cause heated gemstones or some natural colored gemstones to fade.
ESTATE JEWELRY CLEANING
For cleaning your estate jewelry and vintage jewelry, a mild soap and water used with a soft brush is effective for most cleanings. Using commercial cleaning solutions and tools may cause damage to certain gemstones or metals. Commercial cleaning solutions may alter the appearance of gemstones. Cleaning solutions should never be applied to pearls. Soapy water will clean your pearls, but avoid getting the string wet since it will stretch, break or discolor.
Do not use paper towels to wipe your jewelry. Paper towels may scratch your gemstones or metal settings.
USING ULTRASONIC CLEANERS ON ESTATE JEWELRY
Home ultrasonic cleaners are not recommended for cleaning estate jewelry and vintage jewelry. If used, they are best for gold jewelry without gemstones. The ultrasonic may also be used for some diamond-set jewelry; however, the intense vibrations can loosen gems. DO NOT use the ultrasonic on gems such as lapis, malachite, turquoise, emeralds, opals, onyx, coral, pearl, heat treated or dyed gemstones.
USING STEAM CLEANERS ON ESTATE JEWELRY
Steam cleaners should be used with extreme caution or not at all on estate jewelry and vintage jewelry. Steam cleaners should never be used on heat treated gemstones, turquoise, pearls, opals,lapis, onyx, coral or emeralds.
STORING ESTATE JEWELRY
Protect your estate jewelry and vintage jewelry by storing it in individual compartments in your jewelry box or storing it in the individual boxes in which it arrives.
Gemstones may damage other gemstones. Diamonds, in particular, will scratch all other gemstones and metals.
Pearls should always receive special care. Always wipe pearls with a soft cloth after wearing. Separate pearls into their own silk or cotton pouch and make certain that they are clean and dry before storing.
