Caring for Rhinestone Costume JewelryDo you collect vintage rhinestone jewelry? Then caring for rhinestone costume jewelry will be of tremendous importance, because the right method of caring and storing rhinestone jewelry, will keep it in the very best condition and also prolong your jewelry's life.
When the term "paste" is used in jewelry, it's usually referring to rhinestones. And when it comes to rhinestone costume jewelry, all that glitters is definitely NOT gold. The following tips and techniques in caring for rhinestone jewelry will also apply equally to jewelry containing "paste" stones. If you happen to be a familiar with the History of Rhinestones, you'll know that the United States use the term "rhinestone" in reference to these fiery little sparklers, while on the continent of Europe, "paste", "strass" and "diamante" are used. All the above terms are referring to the same thing - and it's not the REAL THING, (meaning diamonds, of course). Rhinestones are man-made gemstones of highly refined glass. Care & Cleaning TipsVintage costume jewelry is often made from a material called Pot Metal. It is a relatively soft compared to precious metals and care should be taken not to bend or crush it. More information about caring for rhinestone costume jewelry can be found in Warman's Vintage jewelry by Leigh Leshner which can be purchased through Amazon.com by clicking on the photo of the book above on this page. If you are drawn to rhinestone costume jewelry or collect Sherman Jewellery then All That Glitters is another very useful guide that you should consider purchasing. Reference: Leshner, L., Warman's Vintage Jewelry, Krause Publications, 2008, Ioloa, WI. Return to the top of Caring for Rhinestone Costume Jewelry Return to Rhinestone Costume Jewelry Return to Antique Jewelry Investor Home Page
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