Prevention
Store your pieces in a jewelry box, a closed wooden box or a cloth pouch.
Continuous exposure to light, air and dust can damage your pieces much faster than you think. If you store them properly they will last as new much longer!
SPECIAL TIP: Silver tarnishes and blackens because of moisture in the air. To avoid it, place a silica gel pack on your jewelry box. Your silver jewelry will stay clean and shiny.
Avoid prolonged contact with water. Painted, metallic or glued elements could be damaged if they get wet. Try to keep them dry to keep their original shine and color.
Avoid knocks and impacts. All parts, especially those made with clay or glass, are fragile. If they fall or suffer a strong impact, they could break. Don't mistreat them!
Maintenance
Clean your costume jewelry pieces after each use by wiping them with a clean cloth.
Every year, rub them with a soft brush in warm water and neutral soap and dry them with a soft cloth. Parts containing leather or leatherette, cotton yarn or similar, glass or gems would be dry-cleaned with bicarbonate to prevent spoil this nonmetallic materials.
Polishing
Bicarbonate method: Moisten a cloth, sprinkle a little baking soda on it and carefully rub the surface of the piece. Rinse with water and dry with a clean cloth. It works perfectly as an eco-friendly alternative to silver cleaning products.
Effervescent aspirin method: Put an effervescent aspirin in a glass of water, let it dissolve and then shove the piece. Let it work about 5-10 min. and then rub it with a clean cloth.
Restoration
You can repair rusty or age-worn costume jewelry pieces by applying some nail polish in a similar colour to that of the piece in question. Once dry, protect it with a layer of clear nail polish or top coat.
IDEA: You can change the color of the piece if you apply the polish in the colour you prefer instead of the original color.
The coverages of some cameos and other painted or lacquered pieces tend to blur by moisture or direct contact with the sun: paint them with a thin layer of clear nail polish to restore the original transparency.
