Collecting vintage rhinestone costume jewelry can be a fun and valuable investment.  By properly caring for and storing your vintage costume jewelry collection, you can preserve it for years to come and for future generations to enjoy!

Cleaning:

• Clean rhinestones and settings with a small amount of glass cleaner on a soft cloth, just enough to dampen the cloth, and carefully dab the area to be cleaned.  Use a cotton swab to get into those hard to reach areas, making sure to squeeze out any excess wetness prior to using it.  Do not spray cleaners directly on your jewelry.
• NEVER submerge rhinestones with foil backing in water, which can easily damage the foil backing, causing the stones to darken, discolor, and come dislodged.
• Avoid harsh or abrasive commercial cleaners,which can cause metal settings and finishes to wear, scratch, peel, or become discolored and damages stones.
• Be very gentle when cleaning your jewelry to avoid scratching it or dislodging any of the rhinestones, especially aurora borealis stones, which can become easily scratched.  However, dislodged stones are inevitable at some point and can be replaced using the proper adhesive.  We recommend G-S Hypo Cement, which can be found in hobby stores or online.
• Make sure your jewelry is completely dry with a soft cloth and let it air dry for at least one hour before putting it back away.
• Rhinestone jewelry can be polished using a jewelry polishing cloth, found at many department and jewelry stores or online.  They are safe, inexpensive, simple to use, and can make your jewelry look shiny and new again!
• In addition to the above, also avoid contact with perfume, hair spray, and makeup by putting your jewelry on last and avoid wearing during vigorous activities.

Storing:

• Store your rhinestone jewelry in a cool, dry, smoke-free, and dust-free environment, avoiding exposure to direct sunlight and moisture.
• Do not store rhinestone jewelry in plastic bags, which can produce moisture and damage your jewelry.
• If at all possible, do not store jewelry made from different types or metals and/or materials together as they could chemically react to each other and cause damage.
• It is recommended to store larger items separately in a soft pouch or cotton-filled jewelry box.  Smaller items can also be stored in jewelry boxes or in egg cartons.
• Storing your jewelry with its original packaging, if present, will add to its future resale value.

Thank you for reviewing my guide and please add your vote below.  Happy Ebaying!