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  for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Cleaning a 14K gold bracelet found in shower drain

2003

We found an old bracelet in our shower drain (house was built in 1934). Upon examination, it is stamped 14k Italy. It is red gold in color. Of course, it's filthy from being in the drain for many years (no one here has ever seen it before). How can this be safely cleaned up to make it wearable again?

Trudy Talbott
NA - Canyon Country, California, USA

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2003

G'day,

Your bracelet depending on the size of link could be quite valuable. Punching in 14k Italy on a search engine will give you an insight. I would suggest you take it to your local jeweler and have it assessed. Having it assessed prior to a bath in a ultra-sonic cleaner may save you the heartache of seeing it shaken apart. Congratulations on a great find. I once lost a valuable diamond pin earring while fly fishing. A huge march fly (horse) bit me on the earlobe as it partially lifted me off the bank....we have big flies down under...I swatted it away and in the process unhooked my earring. My mate who was fishing further down the bank said I would be there forever trying to "find" that earring in the little running stream. Mate...when you see gold whether its in a stream or at the bottom of a drain...all that glitters IS gold. It took my 3 hours and a hole deeper than my elbow joint, but I found that diamond pin. Now every time I go fishing in that stream I carry LONG tweezers in my fishing bag. Ever tried to pick up something small in a stream that's wedged between two rounded rocks? Sorry to hear that you guy's are having such a horrible time with the fires. We had our share of fires last year.

Michael Hein
- Sydney, NSW, Australia