Fine Vintage Jewelry

Other Interesting information:

Reviews of On-Line Jewelry

Fun jewelry facts:
Platinum
Silver
Gold
Pearls
Opals
Birthstones

Other resources:

Stone by stone, find out about gems at the
International Colored Gemstone Association

More information on gems from the
US Geological Survey.

Simple things to do to protect your jewels

Never use ultrasonic or acid bath jewelry cleaners especially for your opaque gemstones like lapis, malachite, turquoise, malachite or onyx! They can dull, discolor and chip both the metal and the stones in your fine jewelry. Also, never let those nice people in the department store "clean your jewelry for free". You get what you pay for.

General Care and Cleaning

Harsh chemicals such as salt water, chlorine or detergents will harm gold, silver and most gem stones. Hair spray, perfume and cosmetics can also do harm to your jewelry, or at the very least cause it to become dull. The best practice is to wipe your jewelry clean with a clean, soft damp cloth after wearing it (except with pearls. See below).

To store your fine jewelry, never place it in a box where several pieces will have contact with each other. Gem stones such as diamonds and sapphire can scratch other stones and metal, especially gold which is quite soft. Gems can also chip and shatter. The best practice is to store each piece in a soft pouch or wrap it in soft cloth.

Opaque Gems such as Turquoise and Lapis

Gemstones like these are, basically, rocks, not crystal like diamonds or sapphires. Rocks are porous and will absorb chemicals or soaps. These will build up in the stones and discolor them. They should be wiped clean with a moist cloth.

Softer Gems such as Opal and Emerald

The more fragile gemstones, such as opal and emerald require more care. Often these gems have been treated with an oil to improve their appearance and extend their lifetime. It is wise to bring your emeralds to a jeweler occasionally to have them oiled. This will both protect them and keep them brilliant.

Again, never use cleaning solutions, or apply hair spray or perfume while wearing your jewelry. Never use boiling water to clean softer stones. Store opal and emerald jewelry in cotton, never in plastic. Also, they crack and scratch easily, so store them separately from other jewelry.

Opals have a high water content and water is part of what keeps the various minerals within the stone together. Because of this, avoid heat and strong light, which can dry the stones out and cause them to become dull or to break apart. They also draw water from the air, so avoid storing them for long periods of time in places that are dehumidified, such as bank vaults.

Don't wear opals in very cold weather, while washing dishes or handling frozen foods because extreme variations in temperature can cause them to crack.

Diamonds

Believe it or not, even though diamonds are the hardest substance known to man, a diamond can be chipped by a strong blow to its edge (this is how they are "cut" after all), so don't wear your diamonds while doing rough work. Chlorine and bleach won't harm your diamond, but can dull or discolor the mounting, so take your diamond jewelry off before using any chemicals. You can clean a diamond with a baby toothbrush and warm sudsy water, although don't do it over the sink, it's too easy to drop it down the drain. It is a good idea to take your diamonds to a jeweler to be checked and cleaned once a year.

Common sense says not to place your ring on the rim of a sink while you wash your hands, but you'd be surprised how many people lose precious jewelry in just that way.

Remember that diamonds can scratch or chip other gems or metal, so use care in storing your diamonds.

Gold and Platinum

For light cleaning of gold or platinum jewelry, you can use a highly diluted liquid detergent in lukewarm water and a soft cloth. To remove grease or oil, dip your gold or platinum in plain rubbing alcohol, but again, don't do this if it is set with gems. Store it using pouches or a compartmentalized box and don't sleep in your fine jewelry. You may harm the jewelry and it may harm you! Store your gold chains flat to avoid breaking.

Silver

Chlorinated water will cause discoloration of silver, so don't wear your silver jewelry while swimming. Silver will naturally tarnish. For light polishing, use a cloth or a specially designed mitt to remover the tarnish without scratching the metal.

Pearls

The surface of a pearl is a soft organic material, and thus pearls require special care. As with other gems, put your pearls on after you have applied your hair spray, makeup, perfume and nail polish, and take them off before starting any evening beauty treatment.

Use a soft, clean DRY cloth to wipe pearls after wearing them. If pearls become heavily soiled bring them to a professional to be cleaned and re-strung. Again, store them in a soft pouch or cloth. Never store pearls in plastic. They should be cleaned and re-strung every two years in any case because ordinary wear will weaken the silk threads used to string them.