Please visit http://www.etsy.com/shop/LoriLakeTreasures for awesome vintage jewelry and hand-created charm bracelets!
Checking: Check for loose rhinestones before cleaning. You can use a loupe with a 10x magnification to check stones. It is good to work on a soft terry cloth towel to catch any stones that may fall out while cleaning.
Cleaning: Clean away surface dust with either a soft cosmetic brush or an old soft clean toothbrush. Keeping two different color toothbrushes are great for using one wet and one dry. To remove simple surface dirt or foreign chemicals such as cologne, lotion, or perspiration, you may also use a soft jewelry polishing cloth. Be VERY careful when cleaning aurora borealis stones, since they will scratch very easily. A very soft cloth is better to use on these. You can use mild soapy water; cold or luke warm water with a small amount of dish washing liquid such as Dawn or Palmolive is fine. Don't make the water sudsy. To remove dirt from both the rhinestone and the metal, you may use a very mild jewelry cleaning product that is approved for rhinestone jewelry. They can protect their luster. Moisten the brush by dipping it in the solution. Remove excess moisture by shaking it out or tapping it on the edge of the bowl and blotting it dry. Gently brush the piece, being very careful to continually blot the brush, concentrating on the tiny areas where dust may collect. It should be semi-dry before applying in order to make sure excess moisture does not seep down into the setting. Holding the piece upside down while cleaning is one way to prevent any moisture from getting down into the setting. You do not want the jewelry to get wet, because if moisture gets in the setting, it can eat away the foil backing and ruin the brilliance of the rhinestone. The back of a rhinestone is just like the back of your mirror. Once it starts losing the backing, it is permanently damaged. Never submerge your rhinestone jewelry in any liquid, whether it is dishwater or commercial jewelry cleaner. Also, be careful of old finishes and plating. Try to avoid soaking any type of liquid into the metal as it could change its color, dissolve its protective over-coating, or otherwise damage it.
Cutting grease: Windex and rubbing alcohol can be used for cutting grease. Using sparingly, spray Windex on to a soft cloth, never spraying directly on to the stones. Make sure that the cloth is only moistened, not saturated. Blot often with a dry soft cloth. Gently clean the stones with your moistened cloth until you are satisfied with the results. A soft cloth or a Q-tip can be used with rubbing alcohol. If using a Q-tip, make sure you squeeze it between your fingers to get rid of excess liquid before applying it to the stones.
Buff dry: When you are finished cleaning, buff dry. There is no need to rinse. Gently use a Q-tip to wipe, being careful not to bend prongs or fittings. Or you may pat each piece with a dry soft jeweler's polishing cloth. To clean metal settings, brush piece with gentle strokes with a dry soft brush or use a jeweler's cloth. The brush will snag if there is a prong sticking up. A prong is very thin, so carefully, using a gentle touch, pressing it back in place. Also clean the back side of the jewelry piece to remove foreign chemicals such as cologne or perspiration. A few strokes with the dry brush should remove any excess cleaner. Once you've given it a gentle cleaning, place it upside down on a towel or absorbent cloth. Let the piece air dry for one to four hours, making sure that it is completely dry before putting away.
Storage: When not wearing your vintage rhinestone jewelry, protect your pieces by wrapping them in paper towels or soft cloths and place them into individual jewelry pouches. Store jewelry pieces separate from each other in a dry, cool, dust free environment. Dust damages stones and plating. Never have your jewelry on while applying cosmetics, perfume, and hair spray.
Vintage Jewelry was not made to last forever, but we can certainly give them the best of care so that we can enjoy them for years to come!
