Why You Need To Repair & Restore Antique Jewelry

Dating back over 100 years, antique jewelry is rare to find but for those of you who have a piece or two, it's important to keep it in pristine condition.

From the Georgian Era to the Industrial Revolution, antique jewelry is classified by which era it came from. If you adore silver lockets and gold brooches, or turquoise gemstones that glimmer in the sunlight, opt for antique jewelry from the Victorian Romantic Era. Prefer opals? You'll want to look into antique jewelry from the Art Nouveau Era. Regarldess of your unique style, antique jewelry can be found in a variety of styles depending on the era.

Before we discuss why a professional should restore your antique jewelry, let's explore some maintenance tips and why you should avoid restoring on your own.

Storage: Storing your special antique jewelry in a safe spot is critical, especially if this is a piece that belonged to a loved one. Keep antique jewelry in a cotton-lined box to avoid scratches and if possible, use an anti-tarnish paper tab for the following:

• Bronze
• Base Metals
• Brass
• Tin
• Gold
• Silver
• Nickel
• Copper

Anti-tarnish paper will last one year when placed in an air-tight container. You can also invest in an anti-corrosion zip-lock bag which is a more affordable choice.

Wearing Antique Jewelry: It may come as a surprise that there is more to simply slipping on antique jewelry. Make sure you don't apply hairspray or perfume on the jewelry and always take off antique jewelry prior to bathing, swimming, or any activity that includes water.

Since antique jewelry is over 100 years old, it's highly encouraged to bring your jewelry to a professional. If you attempt to clean your antique jewelry, you could potentially damage it which will decrease its value. You may be eager to clean over a gemstone quickly, but if it's loose in the setting you could pull the gemstone right out.

One of the most common problems with DIY antique restoration is the clasp breaking. Most necklaces and bracelets have clasps, bails, or stems and these can easily break during a cleaning when pinched too hard. Although there are plenty of cleaning solutions on the market, these may actually cause further damage such as weakening the enamel.

It's unavoidable that antique jewelry will erode over time, but giving it a quick cleaning will not suffice. Professional jewelers have years of experience repairing and restoring a variety of jewelry which means they understand the problems that come with Edwardian Jewelry vs. Georgian Jewelry, etc. Jewelers have specific tools designed to recut worn gems, replace stones, and rebuild prongs.

Jewelers have a keen eye for detail and a steady hand which ensures your jewelry gets restored perfectly, and in a timely manner. There are a series of steps involved in the restoration process such as stone replacement and prong maintenance, which can only be accomplished by an experienced jeweler.

At Bostonian Jewelers, we have years of experience providing the Greater Boston Area with antique jewelry repair and restoration services. It's important that each and every client leaves with their heirlooms in impeccable condition. From cleaning and polishing to fixing bent rings to repairing broken gemstones, we offer a number of services.If you are interested in any of our jewelry services or would like to purchase any of our in-stock jewelry, contact us today!