Do you own Norwegian Solje?  If so, this guide is meant for you.  I will give you some tips on preserving your Bunad Silver, and some suggestions as to the techniques used for cleaning this special jewelry.  I have come across a couple of articles on the preservation of Norwegian Silver, and what I share here, I have learned from these articles.  I am by no means an expert on cleaning solje, I am just sharing some tips that I have read.

Solje usually comes in three finishes; white silver usually with gold spoons, oxidized silver with a deep silver color like polished pewter with silver spoons, and gold gild or gold plate. 

The first step in the preservation of solje is to keep it in the original container that it comes in, (either a plastic bag or box).  Do not wrap a rubber band around the container.  One article states that the sulfur in the rubber band will go through paper boxes, cotton, and plastic bags, and will leave a black stripe across the solje that is very hard to remove. 

If cleaning is necessary, one article recommends NOT using any silver dip solutions.  Another article says to use only a very good silver dip, then rinse immediately with very warm water and scrub lightly with a soft brush to remove any sloution.  Repeated dipping of solje will deteriorate the surface. Another suggestion is to use a silver cloth - without cream or powder - the cloth should be saturated already.  Just rub the upper parts of the solje to make them shiny.

Because jewelry always gets dirty, it should be washed occassionally.  A couple of articles recommend making a mixture of a little bit of ammonia with some natural soap like Ivory or green soap.  Scrub lightly with a very soft brush and rinse under very warm water, making sure all of the cleaning solution is removed. Dry and store in air tight plastic, or the original container that your solje came in.

Following these tips should help you preserve your solje and keep it catching the light for generations. Lykke Til!

Valerie ~ Uniquely Nordic Scandinavian Gifts

www.uniquelynordic.com