You probably have heard about antique jewelry being passed from one generation to another. An heirloom from your great grandparents proudly handed down to you as a prized possession. Some people would be flattered to receive such possession; while others may be less enthusiastic than expected. However, there is one thing you have to bear in mind when it comes to antique jewelry: no matter what, preserve the jewelry in its original form.
Preserving antique jewelry means keeping them as is and not altering anything about them. It means leaving the jewelry pieces in their original forms. if you . Acquiring antique jewelry is like getting hold of a piece of history. Altering them is like altering its history and everything that was associated with the jewelry piece.
Antique jewelry pieces are valued according to their style, design, and the history that comes with it. Thus, when you tamper with the original setting or design of the antique jewelry the value of the jewelry also decreases. Although the antique jewelry piece is not made up of high-quality materials, the history that is involved with the item makes it expensive sometimes even priceless.
It is imperative that once you have antique jewelry pieces on your hands, you should take good care of them. Here are some tips that might be helpful in taking care of your jewelry pieces including your grandma’s antique jewelry pieces.
If your antique jewelry pieces include precious stones and gems, then it is advisable you store your jewelry in a safety deposit box. If you are not really interested in wearing the antique jewelry pieces, then keep them safe. And if ever you get to decide to wear them or clean them, you can just take them out of the safety deposit box and return them later on. if the item is an heirloom it is best to take more safety and care measures because of the historical and sentimental values that comes with it.
Do not place antique jewelry pieces with other jewelry items. You have to keep and store them appropriately. Antique jewelry made of silver and gold should be polished once they lose their shine and luster. Avoid exposing antique jewelry pieces to harsh elements and chemicals. Harsh conditions can cause damage to your antique jewelry items. If your antique jewelry pieces have stones attached to them, remember that a change in temperature may result the stones to fall out. Any change in the temperature – increase or decrease – has an effect on the glue used in the jewelry.
Another tip in cleaning antique jewelry is keep them dry before storing them away. The biggest enemy of your antique jewelry or any jewelry is moisture. After cleaning your jewelry pieces, allow them to dry for at least 20 minutes. You can also turn them upside down allow moisture to move away from the jewelry setting.
Your antique jewelry pieces may have been worn many times over many years. One of the best pieces of advise you can get is to wear these pieces proudly, but sparingly. Try not to wear your pieces out as often or to events or activities where you may be using your hands continually. Also, it’s best to not layer antique pieces, as this may cause damage to the antique piece.
October 24th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
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January 4th, 2012 at 8:03 pm
I agree that Antique jewelry is a preserving. It suggests that keeping them as is and not altering something regarding them. It suggests that leaving the jewelry items in their original forms if you Acquiring. Antique jewelry is like obtaining hold of a bit of history. Altering them is like altering its history and everything that was related to the jewelry piece.