At Vintage Jewellery, we believe that vintage rings are more than just a piece of jewellery. They carry with them memories, stories and a piece of history. These unique pieces deserve special care, not only because of the many years they have endured, but it is important because of the materials they are made of. You cannot simply clean your vintage rings with any kind of soap, as many antique rings contain fragile gemstones or delicate settings or even both. In this blog, we will discuss how best to do this and provide some additional tips.
Why is it important to clean your rings?
You often don't see the dirt on a vintage ring, but cleaning your ring regularly is essential to maintain its shine and appearance. Daily wear simply gets oil, dust and dirt on your vintage ring. Indeed, especially vintage rings with detailed settings can become dull over time if not cleaned properly. Dirt and oils can also build up around the settings of gemstones, which will not only reduce brilliance but stones can also become loose faster as a result. So cleaning the stones in your ring requires different methods depending on the type of stone.
Manual for cleaning your vintage ring
- Make sure you have the supplies at hand: For example, you can think of a mild soap, soft toothbrush, soft cloth and a small cup of lukewarm water.
- Inspect the ring: It is important to inspect the ring thoroughly before you start cleaning. Look out for loose stones, cracks or other damage. A ring with loose stones is better repaired by a professional first, this way you avoid gemstones becoming even looser or lost.
- Soak with mild soap: A mild soap is safe for most jewellery and various gemstones. It is essential to avoid harsh chemicals as they affect both the metal and the stone.
- You can soak the ring briefly: Leaving the ring in mild soapy water for 5 to 10 minutes can already loosen the surface dirt a little. Be careful with opal and pearl, these cannot withstand water.
- Use a toothbrush: A toothbrush is a soft brush that will not scratch your rings. Don't press too hard and be careful with sensitive gemstones, for rings without a stone you can brush a bit more firmly.
- Rinse your ring well: After cleaning, it is best to rinse the ring and dry it well, again it is important to do so carefully. Try to avoid running water from the tap, this way you can avoid washing away small stones or other parts of a ring.
- Pat your ring dry: The last step is to dry the ring. Don't rub too hard, and let the ring dry on a soft cloth. Avoid sunlight, as this may cause some stones to discolour.
Tips from Vintage Jewellery
Besides cleaning your vintage rings regularly, here are some other tips to prevent your ring from getting dirty faster, this way you can also extend the life of your ring:
- Try to avoid perfumes and lotions: Chemicals in these types of cosmetic products can cause a dull sheen to appear on your beloved vintage jewellery.
- Get your ring checked regularly: Check every so often to see if your stones are still secure, if in doubt we always recommend going to a jeweller to have it checked. After all, it would be a shame to lose your gemstones.
- Don't wear your ring while working with your hands: Vintage rings can sometimes be more fragile because of the handwork. Therefore, take off your ring while cleaning, exercising and gardening. Try to assess this carefully yourself.
Summary
So at Vintage Jewellery, we believe that vintage rings are more than just jewellery. Each ring therefore deserves special care, especially because of its delicate designs and fragile gemstones. When cleaning, it is therefore important to avoid harsh chemicals and proceed with caution. Regular cleaning is important to maintain the shine and appearance and prevent your ring from becoming dull from all the dirt that accumulates. So use these maintenance tips above all to prolong the life of your vintage ring.
