Dirt on mother-of-pearl

[Alex]

Hello, I recently got a set of antique gold and mother-of-pearl cufflinks. Unfortunately, there is some dirt or tarnish on the mother-of-pearl, surrounding a gold thread in the center. I've tried rubbing it with a damp, lint-free cloth, but I can't get the cloth on the dirt due to the raised gold threads. Any ideas of something I can use to reach the tarnish without risking damage to the mother of pearl? Despite their age (likely from the 1930s), the pearl is not cracked or discolored so I want to be extremely careful with them.

 

[Zeide Erskine]

Cleaning mother of pearl

Cleaning mother of pearl

You may try salt slush (table salt or sea salt made into a paste with a little water) and a very soft baby tooth brush. Put the salt slush on the brush like toothpaste. When you have removed the dirt, rinse carefully with lukewarm water using the brush until you are sure all salt is gone or the metal will tarnish like crazy.

Zeide