Ask the Experts Cloisonné BeadsQ&A

How should I clean cloisonné beads?

- Hilary, Indiana

To clean your cloisonné beads, simply wipe them with a damp, soft cloth. If tarnished, clean with a polishing cloth, using gentle circles over the surface.

Cloisonné should never be soaked, as liquid can get between and under the enamel, damaging or lifting it. Each cell is melted glass, so treat cloisonné beads like a delicate form of glass. Care should also be taken to avoid chemicals and ammonia.

- Tammy Honaman, Author, Jewelry-Making Expert and Educator