Cameos are pieces of art, and must be cared for accordingly. Store your cameo away from heat or bright lights, in a softly lined box, and remember that simple cleaning is probably the best method:
- Dust your cameo regularly with a soft brush.
- While dusting, pay attention to the deep ridges in the cameo where dust is likely to collect. Dust can scratch a cameo, so it is important to keep it as dust-free as possible.
- After dusting you may rinse a shell cameo with warm water, drying it afterward with a soft cotton cloth. Shell cameos are easily damaged, so avoid using soap, harsh cleaners or commercial jewelry cleaners.
- Mother-of-pearl cameos can be cleaned with a mixture of mild soap and warm water before being dried with a soft cloth.
Thanks to Anna M. Miller’s book Cameos Old & New for these special cleaning suggestions.
