Have you a collection of vintage jewellery or antique jewellery – perhaps you have just one or two pieces. These precious gems need special care and attention, Here is my ten point guide to the caring for them:

1. Keep an inventory of your vintage jewellery

Vintage Jewellery can be valuable, is difficult to replace and often has sentimental meaning to its owner.  If you have an inventory of your jewellery you will be at least be able to insure in case of loss, damage or burglary. Keep all your receipts from when you purchase your jewellery, take a photograph or two of each piece as well. Jewellery is very difficult to photograph clearly but even a bad photo is better than nothing. Are there any makers markings or hallmarks? Copy these down which will help to find a replacement if necessary. Also note down the size of each piece.

2. Check the condition regularly

Jewellery should be checked fairly regularly to ensure that there is no wear. The settings on rings become worn and you can loose a stone, strings of beads or pearls wear and you could loose some precious stones if attention is not paid to the wear before it becomes to late. If you do not know what to look for take the piece to your jeweller who will give your precious antiques a health check.

3. Keep your vintage jewellery clean – but do not over clean

Make sure you do not get perfume and make up onto your vintage jewellery. This will tarnish or discolour your pieces. You can clean your jewels occasionally but check that you are using the right method of cleaning for they materials and dont clean off any of the finish. Gold gilt will wear off as will paint and lacquer

4. Wear pieces seperately

If you wear more than one item of vintage jewellery at a time please do keep them separate as the pieces will wear against each other. For example two rings worn on the same finger especially if the golds are of different carats.

5. Wear pieces carefully

I suggest that you do not wear your vintage and antique jewellery every day to keep it at its best. This would especially apply to rings. Necklaces, brooches and earrings are all subject to wear and so are perhaps best kept for special occasions. Or why not just have several pieces and rotate them so no one piece gets too much wear?

6. Take care with storage

You vintage jewellery should be stored carefully – each piece should be separated from the next by lint free cloth or acid free tissue. If stored together in a box pieces will scratch and rub each other.

7. Choose your jewellery carefully

If you take a piece to be services or repaired take care when selecting your jeweller. Not every high street jewellery is experienced with vintage gems. Ask around first – you need someone with specialist knowledge so as not to destroy the piece or its value.

8. Do have pieces restored if necessary

So the worst has happened, your vintage ring has lost a stone, a clasp on a necklace is broken or the pin on a brooch. It is worth taking the time and expense to have a good piece of vintage jewellery repaired but see point 7 and ensure this is done correctly

9. Buy a Jewellery loupe

If you are buying lots of vintage and antique jewellery I suggest that you get a jewellers loupe ( a special x10 magnifying glass) this really does help to examine pieces up close. And learn how the loup properly

10.Learn about your jewellery

If you dont know what you’ve got ask an expert, buy a book or look it up on the internet. If you have a very special piece I migh take a look for you – just send me a photo in . jpg format and I will write about it here on my blog