The jewellery, which was worn many years ago, has always delighted people - and probably always will - with its unique beauty, subtlety of workmanship and incredible artistry of former goldsmiths.

      To keep jewellery so unique and beautiful, we must treat, use and take care of it properly.

      Jewellery was often produced from mixture of gold with other metals, such as silver, copper or zinc in order to get a desirable colour. Thanks to those supplements surface oxidizes, changing its colour to some extent. This "noble" patina, with which old pieces of jewellery are covered, is mostly visible in all hollows, internal sides and places not easy to reach. It looks beautiful especially in gold-silver jewellery (the upper layer). Patined silver contrasts in black with diamonds, and the whole is founded with gold in typical old deep shade. In many cases a patina can indicate the age of jewellery, its history and all kinds of alternations or repairs. Apart from it, jewellery might be covered with tiny scratches, which is simply the result of frequent use. All those elements describe unique charm of the antique jewellery and its undoubted soul.

      However an inappropriate cleaning and using might easily spoil all that charm. Here are some useful tips how to clean jewellery.

- It should be bathed in warm water with washing-up liquid, then cleaned with soft toothbrush. Water should not be too hot - just warm. - Always clean it under some dish - just to avoid losing precious stones and other small elements that might be loose or weakly set - Dry jewellery with hair dryer, just remeber to keep the dryer in right distance (not too close) - wipe with flannel in order to remove cream, perfumes, hairspray or particle of sweat; Those factors have very harmful effect particularly on pearls, beads, turquoises and ivory; may cause discolour and stains - Solvent, washing-powder, methylated spirits or other caustic chemicals should never be used

      However, it is always safer to entrust to experts in those kinds of work.

Piotr Olszewski