How to clean and care for vintage jewelry
Mar 7, 2014 | by Becky Oeltjenbruns
Costume jewelry from the Cause A Frockus collection
Vintage jewelry is an essential attribute to any retro-inspired look. It’s always a treat to walk into a party with a unique, statement piece on. That first complement makes you feel over the moon and so begins a new venture – collecting vintage jewelry. Once your collection is underway, you will find yourself needing to polish up your new treasures. But as with all things with character, care is needed. Join us in learning more about how to clean and care for vintage jewelry.
Caring for metal costume jewelry
You may think a fine jewelry cleaner is an easy solution but beware – since costume jewelry has a different chemical composition the cleaner will not react well to your pieces. But have no fear, the best solution is quite easy. To clean your items, simply let them soak in a shallow dish filled with a mild liquid soap and warm water. After they’ve had a nice short bath, remove them and carefully rinse off the remaining bubbles with warm water. To finish, all you must do is gently dry with a soft, clean cloth.
Smiling fish, from the Cause A Frockus collection
Keep in mind that because of the chemical reactions we mentioned above, you’ll also want to avoid contact with everyday items containing alcohol or ammonia, such as hairspray or perfume. That should be relatively easy to do as putting on your jewelry is usually the final step before you step out the door for a night on the town.
Now that your treasures are clean, there is an easy way to make sure the luster and shine sticks around. In the fabric-lined box you use for storage, add in a piece of regular white chalk. This simple addition will keep your jewelry from tarnishing. Every couple months, change out the piece of chalk and you’ll be good to go. Be sure to never store your pieces in a plastic, zip-lock bag. Moisture is the number one enemy for metal jewelry and plastic bags create a humid environment that will ruin your precious finds.
Caring for vintage pearls
Much like our metal costume jewelry, you will want to steer clear of perfume and hairspray. So always remember do your hair and apply your scent before you put on your accessories. However, keeping pearls separate from the oils in your skin or makeup is much trickier to prevent. While washing them may seem like an undertaking, in reality it’s pretty simple. (In fact even easier than caring for metal costume jewelry!) Pour cold, clear water into a large bowl, give your strands a few gentle spins, remove, and dry with a soft and clean cloth.
Vintage pearls, from the Cause A Frockus collection
Pearls will require ongoing maintenance. Have a trusted jeweler restring them and be sure to ask that they are knotted between each individual pearl. This should be done every few years. Due to their fragile nature, they are prone to scratching. So be sure to store them in a cloth bag when they are not accenting your favorite outfit.
Caring for bakelite and vintage plastic jewelry
Bakelite is one of our favorite vintage jewelry materials and require care so they can be enjoyed for years to come. Keep in mind that bakelite will darken over time, so do your best to avoid wearing them in direct sunlight. To clean them simply thoroughly wipe with a soft, clean piece of fabric. If you find that there are stubborn spots you can try removing with a small amount of Goo Gone or soaking them in a mild soap and warm water bath. Shining them up is easy – a quick buff with a small dollop of wax will restore their original luster. Beeswax polish works well for this task.
How to get rid of verdigris on vintage jewelry
You may be asking yourself, what is verdigris? This all sounds so technical. The term is simply a fancier way of describing that gross green mold-like gunk that often lives on vintage jewelry. The good news is that a simple remedy can often remove this nasty patina from your favorite pieces. So onward to the refrigerator!
Green goddess, from the Cause A Frockus collection
In a small bowl, mix equal parts of regular ketchup and mayonnaise. Using a q-tip, apply a small amount of the mixture to the affected area. Let this sit for two or three minutes. Then wash it off with clean, warm water. If the first round doesn’t get all the gunk off try again, leaving the mixture on for a few more additional minutes.
While this easy trick works well for most jewelry in your collection – be sure to never use it for pieces containing fake or real pearls. For pearl items with verdigris we recommend seeking out a trusted jeweler, one who specializes in estate jewelry. They can advise you on a cleaning plan that works for your particular treasure.
Cause A Frockus would like to thank their tremendous resources: Charli, Wiki How, Jewelry Making Journal, and “Tips, Tools, and Techniques: To care for antiques, collectibles, and other treasures” by Georgia Kemp Caraway.
For our readers: Do you have any additional tips/tricks on how to clean and care for vintage jewelry? Have any questions? Let us know in the comments!
Thank you for mentioning doing hair and perfume before putting on pearls. I didn’t realize that those could hurt any of my vintage pieces. It’s definitely something that I’ll be keeping in mind from now on.