Care Of Rhinestones

Cleaning Rhinestone Jewellery

There are two important considerations when cleaning Rhinestone jewellery.

• Rhinestones can be damaged by water.

• Rhinestones are set in a variety of materials.

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Rhinestones are pieces of faceted glass which have sheets of metal foil adhered to their backs. The metal foil acts as a mirror, reflecting light and making the rhinestone shiny. Rhinestones come in varying qualities. The best rhinestones are made of leaded glass. The glass itself has a great deal of brilliance, and the foil on the backs makes them shine even more. The number and placement of the facets also make a difference in the brilliance (or glitter) of the rhinestones.

The foil on the back of the rhinestones can be loosened by many factors. These factors include the passage of time, friction, and chemical exposure (certain glues, perfumes, make-up, solvents, etc.). If the foil is loosened from the back of the rhinestone, water can seep between the rhinestone and the foil. This will speed the process of deterioration. Rhinestones which have lost their shine because the foil has been damaged or loosened from their backs are referred to as "dead" or "dull." They typically appear grey or green in colour and do not match the shine of the undamaged rhinestones in the same piece of jewellery. If the foil on the backs of your rhinestones is tightly adhered to the glass, water will not dull them. Unfortunately, you may not realize that the foil is loose until the stone becomes wet. The moisture will then speed the deterioration of the foil and dulling of the stone.

For this reason, it is best to avoid getting water on your rhinestone jewellery. If it is absolutely necessary to wet the jewellery during cleaning, the exposure to water should be as brief as possible and the water should be removed promptly. DO NOT SOAK RHINESTONE JEWELLERY!

Because rhinestones are set in a variety of materials, you must use extreme care when applying chemicals in an attempt to clean the jewellery. Many chemicals (alcohol, ammonia, etc.) can damage the plating of the metal. Many substances that you don't think of as chemicals can also damage the plating. These damaging substances include skin oils or perspiration, perfume, make-up, and hairspray.

The best policy is to not clean your rhinestone jewellery unless it is truly dirty. Try to avoid soiling your jewellery if possible. Put it on last, after you apply your make-up and perfume. Don't apply make-up or perfume to parts of your skin which your jewellery will touch.

Even with this very gentle cleaning method, some moisture may penetrate behind the rhinestone. If the foil is intact this should be no problem. If, however, the foil was already deteriorating you may find that the cleaning will accelerate the process and you will need to replace that stone. If this happens you can console yourself with the knowledge that the stone would have become dull within a few years anyway.

The key principles are:

• Avoid the need for cleaning by keeping your jewellery clean!

• Use a light hand when cleaning rhinestone jewellery.

• Do not soak rhinestone jewellery in any liquid!

• Use the gentlest cleaning solutions you can find. Blow jewellery dry, but do not use heat.