Vintage jewelries from years ago have special value. The value you cannot create today. The value makes it very expensive. For expensive jewelry you must know that you need to care it very well or you will lose it value. Since jewelry value is lay on it beautiful appearance, you need to make sure that no change on it physical look. The beauty should last forever. And if you have vintage jewelry you need to learn about vintage jewelry care and cleaning from high level jeweler with years of experience to deal with those jewelry.
There are lots of rule to clean vintage jewelry and it depend on jewelry material and design. For open backed jewelry soft cloth damp with mild jewelry cleanser or only water may enough to remove dirt and grease. For difficult corner on the jewelry you may brush it with very soft toothbrush. But you cannot use this method for jewelry with gemstones like opals, turquoise, and pearl. You must only rub it with very soft lint free cloth. For closed back jewelry you should not use any liquid also, because any liquid which enter the gap between mount and the stone will spoiled the stone and even change it color. Use only lint free cloth and the softest toothbrush to gently brush it surface to remove any dirt.
The special value what make it very valuable is antique jewelry history, something that the others don’t have. To make sure you keep the history inside, you need to care it. Not only keep it clean but try to protect it from moisture, liquid, water, direct sunlight, and scratch. Remember these rules when you wear and store it. And for repair you can only trust your vintage to the expert jeweler with years of experience in handing antique jewelry.