Cameo Cleaning

CLEANING CAMEOS
by Preston Reuther

Cameos for the most part or shell. They make cameos from about 26 different types of shell but for the most part there shell that came from the sea. The setting may be gold, silver, brass, or pinchbeck but the cleaning is almost the same. There are quite a few fancy and expensive ways to clean cameo jewelry such as ionic cleaners, steam cleaners, and many more.

Whenever you enter a priceless old cameo into the modern world of cleaners you take a chance of damaging your cherished piece of jewelry. If you have to choose one I would go with the ionic cleaner rather then the others just because you will rarely have any damage with that particular cleaner. Be sure to get the one with the electrical cord because the battery powered ones just don't have as much umph, but be prepared there not cheap!  I clean my cameos (all of them) the simple, easy and very inexpensively. I use an age old secret formula!! Its been a trade secret in the jewelry industry for years and I'm going to let you in on it right now! (drum roll) TOOTHPASTE! Yep, good old fashion white tooth paste will clean the white face of a shell cameo in no time at all. And you can use it on agate cameos, shell cameos, wedgewood cameos, turquoise cameos, glass cameos and coral cameos. Here are some simple steps you can do for cleaning that old or new cameo:

#1. Start with the metal cameo frame and to clean it no matter if your cameo is silver, gold or brass use some red jewelers rouge. Its only about $4 and it will last you about 5 years. Rub the red jewelers rouge vigorously on a cloth. (old cotton underwear works great) and then rub the cameo frame lightly with the cloth for a good shine. After that you can start the process below_________It is highly recommended that you do this over a carpeted floor or bed or somewhere if you drop it or it slips from your hand your cameo will not break on the floor below.

#2. Get some good old fashion toothpaste, almost any kind will do. The cheaper the better and put it on a soft tooth brush. Now don't forget soft bristols not hard bristols, that's important. You don't want a tooth brush that is so hard it scratches the shell.

#3. Place your cameo under pouring water from your faucet, make it medium warm. Then take it out and scrub the face of it with your soft tooth brush till the face is nice and clean and the setting cleans up a bit too. Don't overdue it a little bit of dirt gives it an aged look!

#4. Unless the back is really dirty I would not go there you might break a pin or bail and then you are in trouble. Leave it be.

#5. Rinse it with medium warm water and pat dry and you got a clean cameo again!

Do not scrub the cameo! And do not leave it to soak! Shell cameos may be stored in a clean, dry place, away from heat and bright lights. It is preferable that the jewelry box containing the cameo be lined. Follow the above guidelines and you will enjoy your shell cameo for many years to come!

Preston Reuther Master Wire Sculptor
PS. If you would like to learn more check out my other sites:

www.wirejewelrybootcamp.com
www.antiquecameos.com
www.cameojewelry.com
www.masterwiresculptor.com