*This is a collaborative post*
I am very lucky to own a couple of pieces of valuable antique gold jewellery. They were either inherited or gifted to me and they are much treasured pieces that I wear on special occasions and hope to be able to pass them on to my children as heirlooms.
Usually, I wear fashion or less expensive jewellery for day to day, because I work with children and it’s safer and more practical to wear something that won’t matter if it’s damaged or lost. But for special occasions, I will wear the pieces I love and treasure and of course, I want them to look good when I do pull them out to wear them. They are stored carefully and safely but all jewellery gets dirty when worn and eventually needs cleaning to keep it looking it’s best. Skin creams, dust, dirt, and pollution can make even the most expensive piece of jewellery look grubby.
Antique jewellery can be particuallry hard get cleaned, as it may be very delicate and require someone with skill and training to clean it and you may need to pay for that. But most of the time you can if you are careful clean gold jewellery at home.
Give solid gold bracelets, chains, and earrings a gentle bath in a solution of a few drops of dish soap and a little warm water. Put small jewelry pieces into a tea strainer or small net bag before placing in the solution; large pieces can go directly into the bowl to soak for about five minutes. Swish the items around, then take them out, lay them on a soft cloth and go over the crevices and chain links with a soft toothbrush to dislodge any dirt trapped there. Return small pieces to the strainer and rinse everything under running water. Buff dry with a soft cloth. If you are cleaning a piece with precious stones in it, make sure the stones are firmly in their settings and be careful cleaning around them. Of course, if your jewellery contains pearls you will need to seek professional help because they can’t be washed or cleaned in soapy water or solutions.
You can keep precious and cherished pieces of jewellery looking as good as the day they became yours, if you store them safely and correctly, wear them often so they feel loved and keep them clean and looked after. It’s worth a little effort to make them make you feel and look good when you wear them…