How To Polish Amber Jewelry
Amber is fossilized plant resin that generally dates to between 30 and 90 million years ago. The sap is thought to have served a protective function for plants, oozing out to fill cracks and fissures, trap insects and repel animals. Amber jewelry is often categorized with semiprecious stones, but must be handled carefully due to its relatively fragile nature. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Three clean, soft cloths
- Dish-washing liquid and water solution
- Olive oil
- Thick protective cloth
Instructions
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1
Remove amber jewelry before using hair products, washing dishes or performing household tasks. Some chemicals create a white film on amber that is difficult or impossible to remove.
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2
Wipe the amber with a clean, soft cloth every time you take off the jewelry piece. This removes sweat and surface dirt.
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3
Mix a weak solution of mild dish soap and lukewarm water. Dip a soft cloth into the mixture and gently rub the amber with it. Do not immerse the piece or allow it to soak. Work the damp cloth all over the amber to loosen and remove dirt.
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4
Use a clean, soft rag to gently rinse the amber with lukewarm water. If necessary, hold the piece under a lightly flowing tap for a few seconds. Never expose the amber to high water pressure. Gently dry the amber with a soft rag.
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5
Pour several drops of olive oil onto a clean, soft cloth. Rub the amber piece lightly to fully coat it in the olive oil. Use a separate soft cloth to buff the amber, rubbing just hard enough to remove the excess oil and create a slight shine.
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6
Cover the amber with a thick cloth when cleaning other parts of the jewelry item such as chains or settings. Never expose the amber to silver polish, jewelry cleaning formulas or other harsh chemicals. Do not place the amber item in a steam cleaner or ultrasonic cleaner.
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Protect the newly-cleaned amber. Wrap it in a soft cloth or place it in a velvet-lined jewelry box. Do not allow amber to touch other jewelry. Never expose it to temperature extremes or rapid temperature changes.
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