I have a 120 + year old rosary, which I think was made of ivory. How do I clean It?

Question

medal string, no leather, white beads ( dirty) old

Answer 1

Its like coins, never attempt to clean you will decrease the value and naturally beauty

Answer 2

"Never attempt to remove the surface coat pigment or patina, as it affords protection for the piece, and is an indication of age. Many liquids, including water and cleaning solutions, are destructive to ivory, and should be avoided. Applying water may cause swelling and cracking. Extremely dirty pieces should be referred to a professional conservator, as well as pieces that are dyed, pigmented or inlayed. When in doubt, consult with an expert.

"Avoid placing ivory pieces in direct sunlight. Direct sunlight raises the temperature and lowers the humidity, contributing to cracks and color change, specifically bleaching. Low light levels offers the best protection."

There is a ton of information about caring for ivory at this site:
http://www.canequest.com/cleaning_ivory.asp

Never try to remove discoloration caused by ageing. It is an indication of the value and age of the ivory, and attempting to bleach it out will damage and devalue it.

I had no idea ivory was so delicate or required so much care!

Answer 3

Sounds like a nice treasure!

Take it to an appraiser that specializes in antique jewelry. They will be able to tell you if it's indeed ivory or some other element. They should also be able to tell you if it should be cleaned or not to retain it's highest value as an antique.

Sometimes people clean antiques before checking with an expert & they devalue an antique by cleaning it when they should have left it alone.

Answer 4

I would take it to a jeweler for cleaning. The most you want to do with them is use a damp cloth and lightly wipe the beads. If they are discolored you can try bleaching them in the sun.

Brin

Answer 5

It depends what the string is made of. if it is something like leather then you probably do not want it to get wet. Find someone who deals with antique jewelry, get their opinion.

Answer 6

The mildest thing you can use is bakingsoda and water with a soft toothbrush. Anything that doesn't come off with that, I wouldn't worry about, it probably won't come out with anything else. But, anything stronger than baking soda can cause damage.

Answer 7

use lemon juice water and a soft cloth

Answer 8

use a mild liquid dishwashing soap and water, rinse, and dry, Do not soak them

Answer 9

Honestly, something that old, professionally.