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“Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.” Carrying one of each is a time honored wedding tradition. What could embody tradition more beautifully than a cherished piece of antique jewelry? With the right necklace to set off the silhouette of your gown, or the perfect earrings to accentuate a graceful neck and intricate up-do, antique jewelry lends an elegant finishing touch to your bridal fashion choices. Such unforgettable treasures deserve the highest level of care long after the big day. You can preserve their beauty and value when you know how to protect and clean them properly.

Storing Your Antique Jewelry

One of the most important considerations for preserving valuable heirlooms, like jewelry, is choosing the correct means of storing them. Earrings and rings should be stored flat, in lined boxes that will protect them from being misshapen or scratched. In some cases, it is advisable to limit their exposure to air, in order to prevent the discoloring effects of oxidation. Whenever possible, keep these precious keepsakes in their original, velvet or satin lined boxes. This also serves to prevent them from becoming tangled, or from losing small but valuable pieces like the backs that secure earrings, or delicate clasps. Finely crafted chains and necklaces are best hung to avoid becoming knotted or tangled. If you have a set of hand strung pearls, it is essential that you store them flat, and away from excessive moisture. Pearls are hand knotted onto a fine strand of silk, and moisture can cause such fibers to weaken and break.

Cleaning Your Antique Jewelry

Although many antique jewelry pieces can safely be cared for at home, it is very important to consider each individual piece when choosing your cleaning method. In some cases, you will want to take your fine jewelry to a jeweler for a professional cleaning. At home, there are a variety of dipping baths, and even ultrasonic cleaners. The later use fine vibration and a cleaning solution to dislodge tiny impurities from even the smallest nooks and crannied of your jewels. However, ultrasonic cleaning is not safe for all jewelry. Pieces like pearl rings usually have their gems secured with adhesives that may be dissolved by the cleaning solution. Some gems, like pearl and emeralds are porous. Submerging them and subjecting them to the vibration of the cleaning machines is inadvisable. Ultrasonic cleaners are best for non-electroplated gold or silver chains, and hard gems like topaz or sapphires set in precious metals. Others, with the exception of pearls, can usually be gently cleaned with a soft brush and soapy water.

Use your at home cleanings as opportunities to inspect settings for loose stones, or bent prongs. Doing so can save you from the heartache of losing precious gemstones that have sentimental value, or whose colors may be hard to match. Taking a few seconds for this extra step will save you considerable expense; it’s much more affordable to replace a prong than a diamond, after all.

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