Vintage jewelry has already lasted decades. With a little gentle care, it can last decades more. Here's how to clean, store and wear your pieces without damaging them.
The Golden Rule: Keep It Dry
Water is the biggest enemy of vintage costume jewelry. Most rhinestones are glued in, and their foil backings tarnish and turn dark when water gets behind them, a problem called "dead" or darkened stones. Never soak, rinse, or run costume jewelry under water, and never put it in an ultrasonic cleaner.
Cleaning Rhinestone and Costume Jewelry
- Start with a soft, dry brush, such as a clean makeup brush or soft toothbrush, to remove dust.
- For grime, barely dampen a cotton swab with water or a little glass cleaner, wipe the stone tops and metal, then dry right away with a dry swab.
- Keep moisture away from the backs of stones and the settings.
- Don't polish plated metal hard, since the plating can wear right off.
Sterling Silver
- Use a soft silver polishing cloth for tarnish.
- Leave a little tarnish in the recessed details if you like; it adds depth and shows age.
- Avoid dip cleaners, which can strip oxidized details and damage stones.
- Check out our guide to identifying sterling silver.
Gold, Gold-Filled and Gold Plated
- Solid gold can be cleaned with mild soap and warm water and a soft brush, as long as it has no glued or porous stones.
- Gold-filled and plated pieces should be wiped with a soft, dry cloth only. Scrubbing or polishing compounds can rub off the gold layer.
- See our vintage gold jewelry guide for how to tell them apart.
Pearls
Put pearls on last, after perfume and hairspray, and wipe them with a soft, damp cloth after wearing. Never soak pearl strands, which weakens the silk. Our pearl guide has more.
Natural Stones
Soft and porous stones like turquoise, malachite, coral and opal should be wiped with a soft, slightly damp cloth and dried right away. Keep them away from chemicals and perfume. See our natural stones guide.
Bakelite, Lucite and Celluloid
- Wipe with a soft, dry or barely damp cloth.
- Keep these plastics out of heat and direct sunlight.
- Celluloid is especially fragile. Store it where air can circulate, away from other jewelry, since deteriorating celluloid can release fumes that damage nearby pieces.
- Learn more in our guides to Bakelite, Lucite and celluloid.
Enamel
Wipe enamel gently with a soft cloth. Avoid knocks and drops, since enamel can chip, and keep it away from harsh cleaners.
Storing Vintage Jewelry
- Store pieces separately in soft pouches, lined boxes or divided trays so they don't scratch each other.
- Lay heavy necklaces flat rather than hanging them, which stretches the strands.
- Use anti-tarnish strips for silver.
- Keep jewelry away from bathrooms, where humidity speeds tarnish and darkens rhinestones.
- A small packet of silica gel in a jewelry box helps keep moisture down.
Wearing Vintage Jewelry
- Jewelry on last, off first: put it on after lotion, perfume and hairspray.
- Take it off before washing hands, swimming, showering, cleaning or exercising.
- Check clasps, pin backs and safety catches before wearing, and fix loose stones before you lose them.
- Wipe pieces with a soft cloth after wearing to remove skin oils.
Repairs
A missing rhinestone or broken clasp doesn't have to retire a piece. Matching vintage replacement stones are available, and a jewelry repair shop can fix clasps and pin backs. For valuable signed pieces, use a jeweler experienced with vintage costume jewelry, since the wrong repair can lower value.
For care tips on other vintage finds, see How to Clean and Care for Vintage Finds, and browse our brooches, necklaces, bracelets and rings.
What's your favorite piece of vintage jewelry, and how do you keep it looking its best? Share your tips!