May 13, 2024
How To Clean Gold
The most important thing about preserving antiques and precious metals is handling, or at least the avoidance of it. Sweat is very acidic. Every time a metal is handled, unless some kind of preventative steps are taken, such as gloves or cloth, acid is transferred from the hand to the item, preserving waxes are removed and protective ions are disrupted allowing the acids to begin the action we call oxidization.The oxidization process can be slowed down significantly by using our Gold & Silver metal polish which contains super fine abrasives and a microcrystalline synthetic wax.
Protective IONS!? Yes, that’s right, protective ions. When we polish gold & silver, the surface of the metal is smoothed directionally, making the ions on the surface line up like soldiers. This not only helps conceal minuscule imperfections in the surface, but also helps for a barrier that the acids and salts have to penetrate and disrupt for the oxidation to occur. We can avoid this enormously by not handling anymore than is necessary. LOOK and ADMIRE, but don’t touch. Remember this when you are finished with your handiwork restoring the gold piece to its former glory.
Also, NOT all compounds are jeweler’s rouge, as many people seem to believe. jeweler’s rouge is a specific grade and made with ferric oxide, which gives it the red color. Rouge, being French for ‘red’, means it makes no sense to have green or white compound and call it rouge. If you ventured into Antwerp, the gold dealers capital of the world and offer a Jeweler a bar of green or white rouge, you would be laughed out of town.
Gold absorbs much of the ferric oxide when buffed and comes up a bold, bright gold color, if you use a white or green compound it will absorb the dye. Who wants green gold?
English Custom Polishing manufactures a liquid rouge called Briliant Gold & Silver Polish this is made from only the finest Ferric oxide combined with a synthetic wax and ph neutral ingredients, so it can be used to polish and protect all the fine metals that you might have in your antique collection.
Gold should be handled the least of all metals, just because of its value, and its softness. It should NEVER be cleaned with abrasives, unless it is absolutely necessary. This is when you need Briliant Jewelers Rouge.
We use only one preserving wax to protect precious pieces, RENAISSANCE WAX. Unless there is need to physically polish the surface, Renaissance will remove grime and leave a stable protective coating that lasts years. This wax is pH Neutral, a microcrystaline synthetic wax, developed by the BRITISH MUSEUM and now in use at the SMITHSONIAN, the ROYAL ALBERT MUSEUM and most Major museums.
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