Cheap, tarnished jewelry--can it be rescued?

ticksgirl

I have a necklace from F21 that, shockingly, is severely tarnished and can't be worn anymore. But I absolutely adore it and have never seen anything else even remotely similar to it. Is there anything that can be done to preserve it, short of having the design copied in real gold some day when I've won the lottery?

15 years ago

General

12 replies

Latest reply was from Queen Mum

Velma

Veteran

Have you tried paste silver polish? If that doesn't work, bring out the big guns: try coating the piece with ketchup and leaving it for a few hours or overnight before washing it well with soap and water (sounds crazy, I know, but ketchup can turn a dirty penny as shiny as a new one . . .).

15 years ago

Queen Mum

Veteran

ketchup works... and so does tootpaste. give them a try.

15 years ago

Maya

Veteran

You girls have an answer for everything! I'm going to give this a try. Thanks for asking, Ticksgirl.

15 years ago

PalmFronds

Active Member

You can also try Tarn-X, a silver and other jewelry cleaner in stores.It works great!
The toothpaste trick is good too,but it can't be be toothpaste--it has to be the thick white kind.It gets me out of jewelry jam quite frequently!

15 years ago

Anonymous

I am so trying that ketchup trick... you guys are the best:)

15 years ago

taylor

Veteran

Unless it is Sterling ...it is tarnished for life I'm afraid.

15 years ago

Scarlet

Veteran

I think you got your answers but I just have to ask, is it "ticks" as in nervous ticks or as in the blood-sucking kind?

15 years ago

ticksgirl

Active Member

Thanks everyone, you've given me plenty of options to try! Fingers crossed....

Scarlet, it's actually "tick's" as in The Tick cartoon (see photo). Hubby was a big fan when we met. Not the most glamorous user name, but it's the one I always use. I'm sure it always causes much confusion.

Edited to add: So in other words, the blood-sucking kind.

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15 years ago

Scarlet

Veteran

Oh, okay, that's cute actually and not creepy at all. Okay then.

15 years ago

Kari

Veteran

Ketchup?!? I've never heard of this method before. Fascinating!

15 years ago

Active Member

I've used ketchup before! I have a couple of cheap gold/brass? bracelets that darkened and I used ketchup to shine them right up. I don't think it works for everything, but if you were going to toss it anyway, it's worth a try.

15 years ago

Queen Mum

Veteran

I discovered the ketchup trick when I realized that tomato sauce would leave my copper bottom pans clean.

15 years ago

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