Ask the Experts Cleaning Q&A

How do you safely clean bone beads and antique ivory jewelry?

- Amelia

The first step is to dust them with a soft brush. Ivory and bone both lend themselves to surface carving. Care should be taken not to mar the surface of these materials, especially if they have been carved, etched (as in scrimshaw jewelry), dyed or antiqued.

Try cleaning them with a dry soft-bristle toothbrush. If that isn't enough, most jewelers advise mild soap or lemon juice-and-water. The key is never to soak them. Ivory and bone are porous and will absorb water and swell, so contact with liquids need to be brief and they need to be dried quickly and thoroughly afterwards. It is recommended to not wear lotion or essential oils when wearing bone or antique ivory pieces.

If the "dirt" persists, then it could be aging or darkening of the bone or ivory, and that can add to the history and beauty of the beads.

- Patti