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Tools and Materials Needed to Clean & Repair Jewellery
Agate
Remove dirt and grease by dabbing with a cotton swab dampened with warm, soapy water. If the dirt is stubborn use a soft toothbrush and gently rub. Rinse with clean cold water and dry with a soft towel. When finished agate should have a slightly waxy luster.
Amber
Remove accumulated dirt by gently rubbing with a cotton swab dipped in warm soapy water. Dry immediately with a soft cloth. To achieve a nice sheen, apply almond or olive oil with a cotton swab, wipe off the excess, and buff with chamois leather.
Note: Never allow amber to come in contact with denatured alcohol, mineral spirits, toilet water, hair spray or perfume, as these will permanently damage it. Never soak amber in water, because this will give it a cloudy look that is almost impossible to remove. You should entrust repair of valuable pieces to an expert restorer. However, you can mend pieces that are less important using a cyanoacrylate adhesive.
Aquamarine
Clean with lukewarm, soapy water and a piece of clean cotton cloth. Dry and buff with a soft cloth. Never use hot water, which could possible crack the stone.
Cameos
Clean dirty cameos and intaglios with warm, soapy water and cotton swabs and a make up brush. Rinse with a cotton swab dipped in clean water, and dab dry with terrycloth. To remove heavier dirt, use a small artist's brush moistened
with mineral spirits. Next, add a couple of drops of ammonia to warm, soapy water, and brush this on to the piece. Rinse with the same brush dipped in clean warm water, then dry with a small piece of chamois leather.
Coral
Remove dirt with cotton swabs, or a small artist's brush dipped in warm, soapy water. Rinse with the swabs or brush and clean water. Dry with a cotton rag. Remove stubborn marks by making a thin, cream like paste of crocus powder and water and brushing it on with a cotton swab. Rinse and dry as before. Never soak coral in water. To Repair clean breaks, use cyanoacrylate adhesive. When repairing rough breaks and chips use epoxy resin adhesive tinted with enamel paints.
Carnelian
Remove dirt and grease by dabbing with a cotton swab dampened with warm, soapy water. If the dirt is tough to remove use a soft toothbrush and gently rub. Rinse with clean cold water and dry with a soft towel.
Diamond and artificial diamond
To remove light accretions of dirt from diamond, wash in warm, soapy water, rinse with clean cold water, and dry thoroughly. Remove grease and heavier deposits of dirt by brushing with a small artist's brush dipped alternately into denatured alcohol and ammonia. Dab dry with a soft cloth or towel. Clean an artificial diamond with a small artist's brush dipped in alcohol. Blow on the piece to evaporate excess alcohol as quickly as possible. Never was an artificial diamond as these are usually glued in their setting and easily dislodged when wet.
Emerald
Remove grease and dirt by brushing on with a small artist's brush a solution of warm, soapy water and two drops of ammonia. Remove stubborn dirt with the same brush dipped in denatured alcohol. Gently buff with a piece of chamois.
Enamel
Always have enamel cleaned by professional as it is easily damaged.
Gold
Unlike many metals, gold does not tarnish. However, dirt accumulates in flat, curved, or raised areas and should be removed by buffing with a dry chamois leather. Clean recessed areas and chain links with a stiff bristled artist's brush. Wash gold that is very dirty or greasy with warm, soapy water and then rub it with a cloth or brush. Rinse with clean, cold water and dry immediately with a piece of terrycloth.
Ivory
To clean ivory, wipe with absorbent cotton dipped in warm, soapy water. Then rinse with cotton and clean water and dry with a soft towel. Revive and polish by gently rubbing alcohol oil into the surface with a soft cloth.
Note: Ivory can become brittle with age, and exposure to to excessive temperatures and immersion in water can split or warp ivory. Rub a little almond oil on the surface with a cotton swab and allow to sit for a couple of minutes, then wipe off.
Jade
Wipe with absorbent cotton dipped in warm, soapy water containing two drops of ammonia. Rinse with a cloth moistened with clean water, dry with a soft cloth, and buff with a chamois. Use a stiff bristled artist's brush to remove dirt from crevices. For stubborn dirt, put denatured alcohol and mineral spirits on the brush. Repair small chips in lightweight, translucent jade with anaerobic adhesive, and repair fine breaks with cyanoacrylate adhesive. Repair heavier, more opaque jade with epoxy resin adhesive.
Jet
To clean, gently rub with soft fresh bread. Repair fine breaks with cyanoacrylate adhesive. Repair large chips and breaks with epoxy resin adhesive tinted with black artist's powder pigment.
Mother of Pearl
Wipe with a soft cloth moistened with milk. Dry and buff with a clean soft cloth.
Onyx
Remove dirt and grease by dabbing with a cotton swab dampened with warm, soapy water. If the dirt is tough to remove use a soft toothbrush and gently rub. Rinse with clean cold water and dry with a soft towel.
Pearl
Clean real pearls in a glass jar with a handful of powdered magnesia or potato flour. Shake the jar for 3 minutes, then leave in the solution for 24 hours. Repeat this. Shake again, remove the pearls, and dust off excess powder with a dusting brush. Clean artificial pearls by wiping with a chamois leather moistened with water.
Platinum
To remove discolouration, first add a little olive oil or denatured alcohol to jewelers rouge to make a paste with the consistency of heavy cream. Rub it on with a clean soft rag, wipe off, and buff with a second rag.
Ruby
Wipe with cotton swabs dipped in warm, soapy water, rinse with clean water, and dry with a soft cloth. Rub with a chamois leather moistened with alcohol.
Sapphire
Wipe with cotton swabs dipped in warm, soapy water, rinse with clean water, and dry with a soft cloth. Gently rub with a chamois leather moistened with alcohol.
Tortoiseshell
Wash with and soft cloth and warm, soapy water. Rinse with clean water and dry with a soft cloth. Moisten a soft cloth with almond oil, and a little microcrystalline wax and rub in. Buff with another cloth. To remove scratches mix denatured alcohol and crocus powder to form a creamy paste. Rub on with a chamois. Mend breaks with cyanoacrylate adhesive. Mend cracks and fill in missing inlay by mixing melted
wax crayons to match the tones. Press wax into the holes with a spatula.
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