The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-01-12
CLEANING PASTE JEWELS.
Luster of Rhinestones Not to Be Re
stored Once Lost.

StOISu OlCe AUSJs
1t is we'll known that women who
own valuable jewels frequently have
them duplicated, imitation stones being
substituted for the genuine. This is
done, of course, to preserve the orig
mails again loss or theft. These imi-
tations, most of which come from
Paris, are sometimes so skillfully made
that even experts cannot without a
careful examination discover them to
be counterfeits.
The stones most frequently initiated
are diamonds, some OF which are made
of specially prepared paste. Others,
known as rhinestones, are becoming
more and more popular, and find place
in brooches, earrings, barettes, hair
combs and similar articles of personal
adornment.
A common problem among women
who wear this jewelry is how to clean
the stones in such manner as not en-
tirely to destroy their luster. Few
women know how to perform this opera
ton successfully, and the result is that
when the stones become dirty and
soiled their character is very apparent.
The fact of the matter is that when
rhinestones have once lost their luster
and brillianey nothing will restore
these qualities to them But fortunate
ly there are means of preventing the
stones from losing their luster.
One of the best ways of doing this is
to prepare warm water bath, taking
care that the liquid is perfectly free
from any gritty sediment before i'm
mersing the articles of jewelry. Allow
the iewelry to remain in the water for
about two minutes. Then remove and
scrub with a stiff brush. Rinse off the
soap by plunging the pieces into a bowl
of clean water and then place them in
box filed with ieweler IS sawdust and.I
allow them to remain there for half an
hour, or until all the water has been
absorbed When dry, whisk off any fine
pieces of wood. which may adhere, by !
means of a soft brush, and rub gently |
with a soft cloth.
If the setting of stones is Of silver
this method ought to restore the jewelry
to its former attractive appearance 1t
there is some discoloration in the silver
after this bath, put the jewelry into
bowl of cyanide of potash Rubber
gloves should be used in order to pre-
vent the cyanide from touching the
flesh
The jewelry should be allowed to re-
main in this solution only moment, a
mere dipping is generally enough. The
cyanide would entirely destroy the jew
elry if the immersion were longer. Just
as soon as the piece is removed from
this solution it must be placed in bowl
of lukewarm water, so that the cyanide
may be washed off.
This treatment is only possible where
the rhinestones are set in silver, plat
mum or gold When stones are not en-
tirely surrounded by some metal the
only way to clean them is by softly
with camel s hair brush.
Many women destroy rhinestones in
their efforts to clean them simply be.
cause they do not understand how these |
stones are set. Most imitation stones
are simply pieces of glass, and are
really softer and easier to scratch than
the ordinary window panes. Their bril-
liancy is obtained by the tips of lead or
the aluminium in which they are set.
Hence it will be realized that scrub
bing and liquids, even water itself, will |
have tendency to loosen these tips |
and allow dust and moisture to find en-
trance between the stone and the lead
foil. Rhinestones of the better quality, |
which are made of a composition, can
be cleaned with soap and water just |
the same as diamonds, and may then
be dried in jeweler's hot sawdust.
The best plan to follow in cleaning i
those stones set in silver or any other
metal is to scrub them with prepared |
chalk and stiff bristled brush. The |
only successful way of cleaning tipped |
stones which are in raised settings is by |
carefully brushing with a soft brush, |
and this should be done Immediately
after the jewelry has been worn, so that
the dust shall not work its way into
tho Foil or a1unaiu,,r1
My Dear Madam: Do you know
that you can get a silk dress or ma
feriaI for a woolan g11it mr. skirt at