How to Restore the Finish on Costume & Fashion Jewelry
Everyday chemicals such as soap can damage plating on jewelry, causing deterioration or discoloration. Restoring jewelry may be as easy as buffing it with a soft cloth. For more difficult deterioration problems, you may need to use a strong jewelry cleaner or a replating and polishing cream. The best way to avoid the decomposition of fashion or costume jewelry is to store it in a cool, dry jewelry box and take it off prior to using soap and water. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Silver Brite
- Cotton swab
- Buffing cloth
- Jewelry cleaner
- Soft jeweler's cloth
- Children's soft bristle toothbrush
- Replacement stones
- Super glue
- Replacement clasp
- Clear nail polish
Instructions
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Wipe the jewelry in need of restoration with a jeweler's cloth to see if this fixes the problem.
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Restore silver jewelry with Silver Brite, which cleans, polishes and replates silver. Rub on Silver Brite cream with a cotton swab, then use the buffing cloth in the kit to clean off the solution and shine the piece of jewelry.
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Buff on jewelry cleaner or submerge heavily tarnished gold-plated jewelry directly in the jewelry cleaner after reading the directions on the solution you choose. Wipe gently with a jeweler's cloth. Jewelry with stones should not be submerged because the stones may loosen.
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Once your jewelry is bright and shiny again, brush clear nail polish onto all exposed metal that is not real gold or silver, inside and out, to prevent tarnishing or turning skin green.
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Tips & Warnings
Replace any loose stones with one or two drops of superglue, making certain that no glue overflows. If the stone is lost, many online stores and companies sell loose stones.
If your jewelry's clasp is broken, remove the remaining clasp and replace it with one you have purchased at a local jewelry store or on the Internet. Be certain that the entire clasp needs to be replaced and not just the jump ring prior to purchasing the replacement clasp.
If using a jewelry cleaner, make sure it specifies that it is safe for costume jewelry and does not contain the following: alcohol, ammonia or acids. Since costume jewelry is manufactured using such a wide variety of methods, there is no way of knowing what type of metal is already on the surface or if it has been coated or not. Alcohol, ammonia and acids can be abrasive and worsen the problem, eating away at the finish.
