A Guide On How To Clean Antique Jewelry?

Sushanta Das
6 min readMay 6, 2022

Finding a lovely antique jewelry piece can be a real treat! And the moment people saw it, they knew it had to be theirs. They would want to take this fabulous antique jewelry or vintage home and wear it with various outfits or proudly display it in your house.

Vintage and antique jewelry may shine and gleam when people first bring them home, but silver must be cared for and maintained to keep its original beauty. Once or twice a month, cleaning your vintage and antique jewelry once or twice a month will keep it looking new.

Cleaning antique jewelry presents many difficulties. But do not worry; here are some excellent tips and do’s and do not on how to clean antique jewelry.

Here are some tips for cleaning antique jewelry next time you want to make your favorite treasures sparkle!

How to clean antique gold jewelry?

Gold jewelry is classified as a gold alloy. Pure gold belongs to 24 Karat gold; if the piece is less than 24 Karats, it must be combined with other alloys to boost its endurance and hardness. Be aware when cleaning gold to prevent fragile antique pieces from breaking down or being malformed.

Tips for Cleaning Gold Jewellery at Home:

  1. Rinse the antique gold jewelry under warm water: Dirt and dust can accumulate in the microscopic cracks of gold jewelry over time. When antique gold jewelry is cleaned underwater, it softens, melts any built-up residue between stones, under prongs, and can be readily wiped away. Make sure to place your jewelry in a small strainer and then rinse it with warm water.
  2. Scrub the antique gold jewelry carefully with a toothbrush: Now that any dust or grime is soft enough to brush off, the rest is done with a gentle brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
  3. If it is still not clean: Instead of being rough with gold, use a little amount of mild dish soap to clean the area and gently wipe the soap onto the jewelry with a soft cloth.
  4. Make it shine: Now, after removing the dirt, it is time to bring back that original golden shine. Gently rub the jewelry with a soft rouge-impregnated cloth until perfect.

How to clean antique diamond jewelry?

You may be thinking that diamond stones require rigorous cleaning to maintain their aesthetical appeal, but the truth is far from that. In reality, diamond jewelry only needs to be cleaned gently using a soft bristle brush at a regular interval of time.

  1. Make a soapy solution of mild liquid soap and water:

A Ring Design company says no unique formula with a well-known chemical compound that does not require cleaning a diamond. Take a cup of water at normal room temperature, then add a few drops of mild liquid soap into the water and make a soapy solution; it does not have to create foam. Now, you can use this solution to clean your diamond jewelry or a loose diamond stone without damaging it.

2. Use clean water to rinse the soap:

After you are done cleaning and brushing the stone, dip it into a cup of clean water. By doing this, all the slippery and soapy parts of the diamond would be washed off without any damage to the stone.

3. Clean your diamond regular basis:

A diamond stone is a delicate stone when it comes to its appearance. So, you must clean and wash your diamond stone jewelry or solitaire ring at least once a week. However, Twice a week would be the right choice if you wear jewelry design every day.

4. Use a gentle bristle brush:

If you want to rub the surface of the precious stone to get back its shine and remove any dirt from it, you must use a brush that has soft bristles. A hard bristles brush might scratch the smooth surface of the stone. Also, don’t use force while brushing the diamond stone.

5. Store diamond in a clean place:

Keeping diamond jewelry safe in a clean place is as important as washing it frequently, says jewelry stores in California. Always store it separately from other jewelry items; the right way to keep diamond jewelry is to put it in the box you bought the home after buying it. Otherwise, keep the diamond box in a soft cloth bag to protect against any further harm.

6. Use ultrasonic jewelry cleaners:

You can take your diamond jewelry item to a professional jewelry cleaner for cleaning. They would use an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner machine that rinses all the surface impurities and dust in a minute. While the active movement of the machine sending high-intensity vibrating fluid to remove the dirt might loosen the stone from the jewelry set, an expert would be able to set it back without any problem.

How to clean antique silver jewelry?

Highly polished antique silver ornaments are one of the most gorgeous metals to see; antique silver can easily get dull or tarnished over time. This metal is easy to clean and durable than gold jewelry, though not impregnable. If people frequently have to clean their antique silver jewelry, keeping the silver jewelry next to your skin may be more convenient than being surrounded by acid-free paper or in its box.

Tips for cleaning antique Silver Ornaments at Home:

  1. Rub the antique silver jewelry with a soft cloth: This metal has been lightly rusted and can be fast renewed with a fast rub, but this precious metal that has been extensively eroded may require more effort.
  2. Polish with a silver cleaning solution: Most large shops or jewelers carry various silver cleaning solutions, which may be smudged over the material, left for a few moments, and then polished off with a soft cloth.

How to clean antique pearl jewelry?

Keeping your pearl jewelry clean is important for preserving its luster and ensuring it will last in top condition. Cleaning your pearls can be done easily at home without expensive products or equipment.

Steps to Clean Pearls

  1. After wearing, smoothly wipe your pearls with a soft cloth to remove any perfume, makeup, or grime that might have come into contact with your pearls.
  2. Store them safely in a designated space away from your other jewelry after wiping them. If possible, you can create your velvet-lined keepsake box or lay your pearls flat.

What if they need a deep clean?

Here is the process if you need a deep clean for your pearl jewelry.

  1. If more intense cleaning is necessary, Jewel Smiths suggest using a small mixture of organic dish soap or eco-friendly detergent mixed with one cup of warm, not so hot, or too cold water. Mix them well and gently rub the solution over the dirty pearls in a soft circular motion for 5mints. Do not rub the pearls too harshly. Never use vinegar, lemon, or baking soda because they contain acids that could damage your pearl.
  2. Then, with a damp soft clean cloth, rub the pearls carefully to ensure any soap or residue has been thoroughly removed. Gently massage the fabric around the pearls to completely remove water from the surface of every pearl.
  3. After that, dry the pearls with a clean, dry towel to ensure any excess moisture has been absorbed; as the last, lay pearls flat to air-dry completely. Don’t use a blow-dryer in this drying process because heat and pressure will damage your pearls.

Conclusion

Overall, keeping your precious antique jewelry is not a burdensome task. Instead, it only requires a little bit of observance and regular brushing. However, if you are looking for expert cleaners or have any doubt about buying diamond jewelry, contact Jewel Smiths. We will offer you the best advice to help you get the best diamond.

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