Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-17
TO CLEAN JEWELRY

Now that rhinestone jewelry II being
worn extensively by women. the trick of
keeping the stones bright and clean is some
thing every one wants to learn. for though
when new II il sometimes difficult to tell
imitation brooches. bracelets and hair orna-
ments from the genuine, when the dupli-
Gates begin to tarnish and turn black there
is no mistaking the fact that they are not
real" The discoloration of these stones
makes them practically useless. too, and.
while most women wear them, TO a greater
pensive and duplicate the most exclusive
designs, they lose their value Immediately
when the luster is gone.
Cleaning rhinestones Is almost as diff
cult task to do at home as freshening
pearls. says an expert jeweler, for once
these imitation diamonds begin to turn
plack there Is nothing that can be done to
bring back their brilliancy. Preventing
them from becoming dull Ia, however, quite
possible If. as is often the case, the silver
IN which they are set begins to tarnish.
that discoloration may be removed with a
vigorous scrubing In lukewarm water with
suds from CASTLE or any pure toilet soap
and stiff brush. Care should be taken
that the water Is not too hot or II may
soften the cement around the stones.
In preparing a warm water bath for
rhinestone jewelry be sure that the liquid
Is clear and free from any gritty sediment
before immersing the pieces. Let them
stay in the water but short tine-say, two
minutes-then begin scrubbing with the
stin brush, plunge each piece into a bowl
OF clear water to rinse of the soap. and
then place in a box filled with jewelers.
sawdust and leave for half an hour until
all the water Is absorbed. When dry whisk
on any fine pieces of the wood with a soft
brush and rub gently with a soft cotton or
SILK cloth This cleansing should brighten
the silver, and unless the stones are turned
the pieces should be as bright as IL new
III the silver is still discolored after the
bath, plunge the piece into bowl of cya-
hide of potassium, using rubber gloves 40
that the poison acid will not touch the
mesh. The ornament must be merely dipped
In this fluid and Immediately withdrawn.
Tor the liquid Is so powerful that the lew
elry would be destroyed IL left in II for
more than a few seconds The moment the
piece Is taken from this Frightening fluid
II must be plunged into a bowl of luke
washed OF.
Such treatment, even the water hath. ia
only possible where the rhinestones are set
IN silver platinum or gold, for when the
stones are not entirely surrounded by some
metal the only way they can be cleaned
Ii by careful brushing with a soft dry
camel s-hair brush.
1t Is because many women do not UNDER
stano now rhinestones are set that results
In the ruin Of them In the average attempts
at cleaning. For, IL they knew that the
majority of these imitation diamonds are
nothing but pieces of glass. really softer
and easier to scratch than ordinary window
panes. and that their briliancy is obtained
by the tips of lead aluminium in which
they are set, the idea of washing these
stones unless they are set in a metal would
no longer exist. For they would realize
that scrubbing and liquds-even water
Will loosen the tips and allow dirt and
moisture to get in between the stone and
the lead foil, etc.
Some OF the more expensive rhinestones
made of composition can be washed
when In a raised settng-the same as dia-
monds with lukewarm water. soap and q
brush. and then dried in hot jewelers. saw
dust. The best plan in cleansing with
those set In silver or any other metal is to
scrub them with prepared chalk and a stiff
bristled brush.
With the tipped stones that are In raised
settings the only successful way OF cleaning
Is by careful brushing with a soft brush,
and this should be done after each wearing
so that the dust will not get ground into
the foil or aluminium"