Vintage Jewelry Care and Materials Guide
Beautiful vintage jewelry deserves a gentle touch. At Lamoree’s Vintage, we believe caring for a piece begins with understanding its materials, construction, and history.
Start dry. Keep it gentle.
After wearing, lightly wipe accessible surfaces with a clean, soft, dry, lint-free cloth. Support the piece as you work, avoid snagging prongs, and never rub loose stones, flaking finishes, or delicate settings. A very soft, dry brush can lift surface dust from sound, open areas. Stop if anything shifts or sheds.
Avoid abrasive polishing cloths, silver dip, toothpaste, baking soda, household cleaners, ultrasonic cleaners, and steam. These can remove finishes or damage fragile components. For stubborn residue or corrosion, consult a jeweler experienced with vintage costume jewelry rather than cleaning more aggressively.
When to avoid water (pretty much always)
Do not soak vintage costume jewelry. Keep water and liquid cleaners away from glued or foil-backed stones, closed-back settings, faux pearls, mixed materials, and pieces with unknown construction. Moisture can loosen adhesives, affect coatings, and become trapped behind stones. Even glass stones may have vulnerable backing or settings.
Put jewelry on after perfume, lotion, and hairspray have dried. Remove it before bathing, swimming, exercise, or household cleaning. Store pieces separately in a dry place, away from direct sunlight and humidity; keep chains untangled and avoid stacking delicate settings. It's advisable to avoid sleeping in the jewelry.
How to read common material labels
- Goldtone or gold-tone
- A description of gold-colored appearance, not a statement of gold content. Do not assume the piece contains gold.
- Gold-plated
- A surface layer of gold over another metal. Thickness and condition vary; friction and polishing can wear through it.
- Gold-filled
- A layer of gold mechanically bonded to a base metal, generally thicker than conventional electroplating. It is not solid gold and still benefits from gentle handling.
- Rhodium-plated
- Usually describes a bright, silvery rhodium surface finish in costume jewelry, not a piece made entirely of rhodium. It does not identify the underlying metal.
- Glass stones and rhinestones
- Decorative stones may be clear, colored, coated, or foil-backed. Sparkle alone does not establish gemstone identity, and glass does not make the whole piece safe to wash.
- Maker marks
- Names, initials, symbols, and numbers can offer clues to maker, origin, or materials. Interpret them alongside construction and other evidence. A signature alone does not prove authenticity, date, or metal content; an unsigned piece can still be beautifully made. Conversely, many pieces of vintage costum e ewelry were sold on cards and not marked, so an unsigned piece does not mean it is lower quality. An example is Juliana- such pieces are identifiable by things like how stones are set and the typical designs used.
Preserve character, not a “like-new” promise
Patina and light wear can be part of a vintage piece’s character. Cleaning cannot replace missing plating, reverse deterioration, or guarantee original sparkle. With one-of-a-kind jewelry, matching stones and findings may be unavailable, and older adhesives or hidden damage can make repairs unpredictable. Restoration is never guaranteed; seek an assessment before attempting it. Many times, just leaving the piece and the patina intact adds to the charm and doesn't decrease the value.
Explore the Vintage Jewelry Box and our vintage and antique jewelry sets and parures. Read each listing’s material and condition notes, and ask us about a particular piece before choosing a cleaning method.