Jewelry

[bargainsgirl]

I have some old Alex and Ani bracelets in the gold color.  They have discolored and I tried cleaning them with silver tarnish remover but it does nothing.  Any tips?  These bracelets were all the rage but they really are overpriced costume jewelry.  I got taken LOL!

[Kachina624]

I'd toss them.  As I recall they were just a cute fad, made of base metal so they have no value.  Time to move on to something else.  Next time get sterling which can be polished.

[Reconnaissant]

@bargainsgirl 

These recycled materials will oxidize (tarnish) over time, but there are several things you can do to prolong the original look of your bracelets.  Be sure to apply beauty products such as lotions, perfumes, hairspray, and deodorants before putting on your bracelets to minimize the rubbing of your jewelry against these chemicals.  And be sure you take your jewelry off while swimming, bathing, exercising or doing household chores with abrasive cleaners.

We highly recommend cleaning your bracelet regularly to get rid of trapped oils and dirt.  These oils overtime will cause tarnishing on the bracelet, and may leave black marks on your skin.  To clean Alex and Ani bangles is very easy.

You will need:  • Clean, soft tooth brush     •    Dawn dish soap     •   Water      •    Soft Cloth

1. Rinse your bracelet with clean water and lather with soap.
2. Using your soft tooth brush, gently scrub your bracelet, clean crystals if necessary.
3. Thoroughly dry each bracelet before wearing or storing.
4. Use a polishing cloth if you like. (Do NOT use jewelry cleaner!)

[rms1954]

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@bargainsgirl wrote:

I have some old Alex and Ani bracelets in the gold color.  They have discolored and I tried cleaning them with silver tarnish remover but it does nothing.  Any tips?  These bracelets were all the rage but they really are overpriced costume jewelry.  I got taken LOL!

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You're not alone.  I had so many but I sold many of them while they were still popular.  Made about $300.  I still have some but they are most beaded and not the single charms.

[beach-mom]

@bargainsgirl - I have a lot too. DD gave me the "mom" one 7 years ago. I bought the cloth specifically made by them for cleaning, and that's all I need. I know they advise not to use regular silver cleaning cloths or formulas.

DD said some of the girls on her A&A group recommend using ketchup! Take a baby toothbrush or q-tip and rub it on. Let it sit for 5 minutes, then rinse it off. I guess it wouldn't hurt to try!  

[FancyPhillyshopper]

Sometimes in craft stores  or hardware stores you can buy gold or silver dip paint for metal and then you could recoat the bracelets so they would still be wearable.

Yes, they are costume jewelry and they are an overpriced trend.  But, sometimes trends can be fun!

The inventor of the bracelets took some of her money and bought a huge multi-million dollar mansion in Newport called Belcourt.  Jennifer Lawrence got married there!

So, your contribution of a jewelry purchase helped to preserve a historic building!

[ECBG]

@bargainsgirl Also, it helps to keep fashion jewelry in a plastic bag with the air pressed out.

[SharkE]

I'm cutting down on gold because its out of sight right now and switching to Brighton (no polishing there) and Southwestern jewelry like Carolyn Pollack and if Sante Fe ever opens up again I'm gonna be hitting the plaza over there.

[qvcaddition]

Two weeks ago, I took some cute earrings that I brought in 2008 at a gift shop while on vacation, to the jeweler.  They were not silver and tarnished over the years.  I was going to toss them, but I really like them.

The jeweler told me he could clean them to look new.  Gave me a price of 15.00.  Said if he couldn,t, no charge.  He said they just oxided.

I have been wearing them the last couple of weeks and he was right.

Try taking yours to a jeweler to be cleaned.  

[Welley]

Alex and Any jewelry was just fad 

jewelry and what I call junk jewelry. I'm surprised QVC carried them.