Dragons Breath Stones Jewelry

Dragons Breath stones were created for jewelry in the early 1900s, they are made of glass with metal added to the glass to create rich multi colored stones, blues, reds, purples, with the fire from inside. These stones are called many things by collectors, jelly opals, Mexican fire glass opals. I have only seen them in cabochons, they are beautiful and highly collectible. I have this pin set with Dragons Breath stones in my eCrater store http://rhinestonespast.ecrater.com/

German Silver;

German Silver;
If you have ever seen a piece of jewelry stamped German Silver, it actually is not silver at all, it has the silver color but is made up of different metals such as copper, zinc, and nickel silver or also known as gunmetal....If it's stamped Sterling then it is 9.25 or higher silver.

Vintage Trifari faux Pearls worn by Mamie Eisenhower

Trifari Pearls {faux} 3 strands were custom made for Mamie Eisenhower in 1953 to wear to the inaugural ball..This is her picture wearing the vintage Trifari pearls.

Information on earrings with screw on backs.

Information on screw back earrings;

Screw-back earrings for non pierced ears was first patented in 1894, and I believe were not made after the late 1940s.. This is an example of Art Deco earrings with turquoise blue unusual rhinestones with the screw backs...

Cleaning Rhinestone Jewelry

Rhinestones are the first to show age on your costume jewelry, if they have gotten wet and have foiled backs the water will destroy the foil, turn it black or dark and I don't know of a way to save them you will have to replace them, moisture is your rhinestones worse enemy.

I use a very soft brush to clean them first then I use a Q-tip and windex, since it dries quickly, you can also use rubbing alcohol in the same manner, spray the cleaner in a small bowl barely dampen the Q-tip and rub lightly over the top of the rhinestone, then use a soft cloth to dry it, turn the item upside down on a soft cloth so in case there is a drip it won't run under the foil.