Cleaning Antique Jewelry : Is Cleaning Vintage Jewelry Okay?

Professional or DYI: Cleaning Vintage Jewelry

This is a Fashionista event.

I have a lot of costume and vintage jewelry. Much of it has been bought at rummage sales or vintage shops or even Salvation Army stores. Do you shop for jewelry like that?

Other pieces have been passed down through the family, and although not super valuable, they are precious to me.

Given that I wear many of the pieces frequently, the question always pops into my head. How do I clean my vintage and costume jewelry? My gems? More importantly, should I be cleaning vintage jewelry at all or take it to a professional?

DIY: Cleaning vintage jewelry, costume jewelry or valuable jewelry at home

Always take jewelry to be inspected & cleaned thoroughly by a professional. Psst…Zales offers this service for your jewelry for free!

Zales Expert, Megan Hernandez provides these tips for the Dos and Don’ts to make your jewelry last when doing maintenance cleaning from home:

First, check if your jewelry is in need of repair. If so, do not clean it, take it to a professional immediately.
Pearls and Cultured Pearls are really delicate so handle with extra care. Take a lint free cleaning cloth and dampen the cloth with warm water (or use a cleaning solution that SPECIFICALLY says it’s safe for pearls.) Use the dampened cloth to wipe down each pearl. Reminder: Because pearls are so delicate, don’t put pearls in your jewelry box with other jewelry. Store pearls in their own box!
Gemstone rings, bracelets, etc. Remember different gemstones require different care, so proceed performing home cleaning with caution. When you clean at home, invest in a cleaning solution for delicate gemstones. If you don’t have that, use warm water to soak and rinse, then use a lint free cleaning cloth to dry and polish. (Amazon’s most highly rated cleaning solution)
Cleaning Diamonds. Diamonds are a sturdy gemstone, so if you don’t have a gemstone cleaning solution, use warm soapy water. Let the jewelry soak for a few minutes to loosen dirt or grime. Then use a clean soft toothbrush to whisk away any remaining particles. Follow by using a lint free cloth to dry and polish. (Highly Rated Lint Free Cloth)
Important tip to reduce the need for cleaning. Put your jewelry on last and make it the first thing you take off. This will keep your jewels free of lotions and hair products. All of these can get on your jewelry and dull the sparkle.
Finally a tip from the Chief Blonde: Never remove your jewelry to protect it from the worldly elements at the risk of losing it. Dirty jewelry is better than NO jewelry. If you must remove your jewelry, always place it in your purse or back in your jewelry box.

The Chief Blonde’s Favorite Zales pieces include: (left to right, top to bottom): Vera Wang LOVE Collection 1/5 CT. T.W. Diamond Bow Necklace ($599), Enhanced Black and White Diamond Collar Ring (Sale $579) The Heart Within® Diamond Accent Tilted Heart Pendant (Sale $89), Vera Wang LOVE Collection 1/8 CT. T.W. Diamond Bow Bangle ($579), Diamond Multi-Row Anniversary Band (Sale $949),