As lots of you are getting some spring cleaning done, I thought perhaps a quick blog about cleaning your jewellery might be handy. If your jewellery is looking a bit dull here are some tips, you can do at home, to get it sparkling again.
In the workshop, for nearly all the jewellery cleaning, we just use soap and water. You need a bowl or shallow container of warm water, add a squirt of mild washing-up liquid and soak the items to soften any grime. Then use a very soft brush, such as an artist’s paintbrush or make-up brush to gently clean each item, particularly underneath gemstone settings.
Silver jewellery tarnishes, it is annoying but unavoidable. The best way to clean it is to rub gently with a silver cloth first, to remove the tarnish. Then soak in a bowl of warm soapy water and clean with a soft brush.
There are a few exceptions to this:
You should not put emeralds, opals and pearls in warm soapy water.
If you think the item may have glued gemstones or beads do not soak it, as it may soften the glue.
Some important Don’ts:
Don’t have the soapy water too hot as boiling water can blacken silver and damage gemstones.
Don’t waste gin or other alcohol to clean jewellery.
Don’t use anything abrasive, like toothpaste, as it will scratch the metal and could permanently damage gemstones.
Don’t use bleach, it will turn silver black and you won’t be able to get it off. Jewellery will need to be professionally cleaned if you have blackened it with any chemicals.
Never clean jewellery over a sink – you risk losing small items or gemstones down the plughole!
If in doubt, get it in contact and we can advise!
REPAIRS AND REMODELLING
If you have found any broken jewellery or half pairs of earrings in your ‘spring clean / clear out’, gather the items together because they could be remodelled into something new. I can sketch design ideas and our brilliant goldsmith, Heather, can transform your bits of useless old jewellery into a fabulous new piece you can wear. We can also repair broken jewellery.
While we are in lock-down, I can still receive items by post to work on them, and we can communicate by telephone or email until the shop re-opens. Contact me on 01373 472505 or at christina@christinaoswin.co.uk.
Look after yourselves, each other and your jewellery!
Chris x