RHINESTONE JEWELRY EXPLAINED : Necklace, Bracelet, Earring, and Much More | MISS MOMO Fashion Jewelry and Accessory Superstore

RHINESTONE JEWELRY EXPLAINED

Many Fashion Jewelry are made of Rhinestones these days. So here is some explanation of what Rhinestone is and the ways of cleaning and repairing your Rhinestone Jewelry.

The Rhinestone name comes from Germany. In the early days, the natural crystals from the bottom of the river Rhine in Germany were early substitutes for diamonds. Today, rhinestones are artificial clear or colored stones of high luster made of glass, paste or gem quartz that are intended to simulate diamonds. Some people also refer to them as crystals or stones.

Very often you'll see some rhinestones shining different colors. They are called Aurora Borealis rhinestones. Developed in year 1955, Aurora Borealis rhinestones are rhinestones that have a special coating which produces a rainbow of sparkles. The Aurora Borealis name is derived from the brilliant Northern Lights atmospheric phenomena of the same name.

Here are some tips on how to take care of your Rhinestone Jewelry

CLEANING RHINESTONE

Dust is abrasive to rhinestone jewelry and weather elements cause deterioration. Put your bridal rhinestone jewelry in a soft zipped-up pouch so that the dust won't easily get to it and store it in a dry, cool and dust-free environment.

But when your Rhinestone Jewelry do get a bit dusty, use a glass cleaning agent or mild soapy water. However, remember to not spray the cleaning agent directly on your Rhinestone jewelry or submerge the piece into soapy water or a running faucet. Rhinestone jewelry with foil backing should never be submerged into water. Instead spray a little of the cleaning agent onto a soft clean cloth. Make sure that it is not too wet, just barely enough to get the dust off the piece. For the hard to get to places, use a soft toothbrush or Q-tip with a tiny little bit of cleaning agent.

Make sure that you are gentle when cleaning your bridal rhinestone jewelry. If you use a toothbrush, make sure that it is soft and not scratchy. Be particularly careful with Aurora Borealis stones as they can be scratched easily.

After you clean your bridal rhinestone jewelry, leave them out for at least an hour. Make sure that they are completely dry before you put them away. This is very important because moisture causes deterioration to your jewels.

It is also useful to clean your rhinestone jewelry with a jewelry polishing cloth. It is inexpensive, only a few dollars a piece. If the cloth is getting dirty, please do not re-use it, than it is time to get a new one. Otherwise, you'll just be applying dirt to the jewels.

REPAIRING RHINESTONE JEWELRY

During the course of time if a rhinestone or two fall off, it is a small repair job and you can easily glue it back yourself without hiring a professional. However, you should know how to do it correctly so that the stone will stay glued and won't turn yellow.

Get a type of glue that is for rhinestone jewelry and is in a tube with a needle-nose applicator for precision work. Work on a flat surface free of clutter and where there is sufficient lighting. First of all, make sure that the cup, which holds the stone, is clean. If there is old glue in there, carefully scoop the glue residue with a blade or an appropriate tool. If you are replacing a stone, then make sure the replaced stone is the right size by putting the stone into the cup to see if it fits well. It is better to use a pair of tweezers to handle the stone especially if the stone is small. Put a tiny little bit of glue into the cup, otherwise the glue will fill up to the rim. Any excess glue should be removed before the stone is put in. Let the glue set briefly before you put the stone in. If you put the stone in right away, it will distort the color.

Olivia Gray
Resident Fashion Specialist