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HOW TO CARE FOR VINTAGE JEWELLERY
Vintage costume jewellery has specific vulnerabilities that fine jewellery doesn't. The materials — gold-plated base metals, poured glass, faux pearls, enamel, adhesive-set stones — respond badly to things that wouldn't trouble a solid gold ring. The good news is that most of it is also avoidable.
The main risks
Moisture. Water accelerates oxidation on plated surfaces and breaks down the adhesives that hold stones in place. Don't wear vintage pieces in the shower, swimming, or during anything that involves sustained contact with water. If a piece gets wet, dry it gently with a soft cloth immediately — don't leave it.
Perfume and hairspray. These are the most common causes of plating damage and pearl degradation. Apply both before putting on jewellery, not after. The alcohol and chemical compounds in fragrance strip plating and cloud pearl coating over time, and the damage is gradual enough that most people don't notice until it's significant.
Heat. Prolonged exposure to direct heat — a sunny windowsill, a car in summer — softens the adhesives used to set stones and can warp resin components. Store pieces away from heat sources as well as light.
Cleaning
For most vintage costume jewellery, a barely damp soft cloth is sufficient and appropriate. Avoid proprietary jewellery cleaners — products formulated for fine jewellery are not suitable for vintage costume pieces and can dissolve adhesives, lift plating and cloud or damage glass stones. Never submerge a piece in liquid. Never use ultrasonic cleaners.
For pieces with faux pearls specifically: wipe only with a dry cloth. Pearl coating is a surface finish, not an inherent property of the material, and it is easily damaged.
Storage
Store pieces individually, ideally in soft pouches or the original packaging, to prevent surface contact and scratching. Keep away from direct sunlight and heat. Clip-on earrings stored long-term with the clips compressed can lose tension — store them open or lightly padded if possible.
What to watch for
Inspect pieces occasionally for loosening stones, particularly after wearing. A stone that moves is a stone that will be lost — bring it in for repair before that happens. Adhesive failure is the most common cause of stone loss in vintage pieces, and early intervention is straightforward. Late intervention usually isn't.
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Once you create a blog post, the content will appear here. It will display the first few lines of text here or a summary of the post that could be added from the Excerpt section in Blog posts editor.
Blog post title
Once you create a blog post, the content will appear here. It will display the first few lines of text here or a summary of the post that could be added from the Excerpt section in Blog posts editor.
Blog post title
Once you create a blog post, the content will appear here. It will display the first few lines of text here or a summary of the post that could be added from the Excerpt section in Blog posts editor.