How to repair your broken old fashion jewelry
Like most fashion jewelry (also known as costume jewelry) lovers, chances are you have some old, seemingly worn-out rings, necklaces, or bracelets sitting in the back of your drawer or jewelry box that are never worn. The good thing about cheap jewelry is that it’s easy to get your money’s worth. However, why not get even more for your money by breathing new life into those old pieces of jewelry by reversing some of their most common problems?
Problem 1: Dirty or tarnished?
Cleaning fashion jewelry is simple, but choose your cleaner wisely. Only use a jewelry cleaner that is specifically listed as safe for jewelry, and read the ingredients to make sure it does not contain alcohol, acids, or ammonia, as these can damage gold or silver plate. Use a child’s soft-bristled toothbrush to clean around the rhinestones. It’s probably not a good idea to dip rhinestone jewelry because the stones can become unstuck.
If your fashion jewelry items are only slightly tarnished, a good polish with a soft, dry jewelry cloth may do the trick. For more tarnished items, a jewelry polish can work wonders.
Problem 2: Gold or silver plating worn out?
Because the typical coating on fashion jewelry is very thin, it can eventually flake off with wear or be damaged by the use of harsh chemicals, creams, or perfumes. If this happens, there are several options for gold and silver replating solutions that can be found online. Some are quite simple and can be done without the use of heat or electricity, while others are a bit more complex. I found one website in particular that offers a very good range of plating options (eg, dip plating, pen plating) and general plating instructions for precious metals, such as gold, silver, platinum, and rhodium. It is www.shoreinternational.com. Click on the content and in the search box and then on the gateway. A word of warning: I would recommend buying only non-cyanide coating solutions, as cyanide is poisonous. For silver lovers there is a product that I have personally used that has worked well for me and it is called Silver Brite. This is an all-in-one cream that cleans, polishes, and re-plats worn silver on jewelry and other items. It is very easy to use and quite cheap. Simply dab the cream in with an applicator sponge or small item cotton swab and buff with the included polishing cloth. The result is a clean, shiny silver finish.
Problem 3: Loose or missing stones?
If a stone like cubic zirconia, plastic or glass has become loose or fallen, a drop or two of super glue will do the trick. Just be careful not to use too much. You don’t want the glue to run off the sides and cause the piece to stick to your skin or something else. Most of the time, a single drop will suffice, unless it is a very large stone, in which case you may want to use two drops. If you can’t find the missing stone, there are companies online that sell loose cz stones if you have a particular chain or ring you want to save. Just do an internet search for cz stones.
Problem 4: Closing broken?
If your fashion necklace or bracelet has a broken clasp, make sure it is the actual clasp that is broken. The problem may be a broken jump ring, which is a small metal ring that is open in one place that connects the clasp to the chain. If this is the problem, it can be easily fixed. First identify what type of clasp it is (for example, a lobster clasp that is shaped like a lobster claw and has a small spring-loaded lever, a magnetic clasp that is just as it sounds, or a spring-loaded ring that also has a spring). ) and then visit your local craft store or do an online search for jewelry snaps and you should find what you need. If the clasp is soldered, you will need to contact a jewelry repair professional.
Problem 5: out of date:
If you simply want to add a new style to your old jewelry pieces, you can simply mix and match them. If you have a special pendant that you particularly like, give it a new lease of life with a more contemporary chain. Add new charms to your favorite bracelet or re-plat that old silver necklace with a shiny new gold finish. Be creative!