How to Store P90 Double Sun Earrings: A Collector’s Guide

You have just returned from a dusty antiques market in the Cotswolds, a charity shop in Brighton, or perhaps a late-night online auction. In your hand, wrapped in acid-free tissue, is a pair of P90 Double Sun earrings. They are not merely earrings; they are a small piece of mid-century British design history. The double sun motif—two concentric or overlapping sunbursts, often rendered in gilt metal, brass, or occasionally silver plate—is a distinctive silhouette that emerged in the 1950s and lingered into the 1970s. But what happens next? How do you store them so that their patina, their clips, and their delicate sun rays remain intact for another fifty years?

This article is not about how to wear them (though we will touch on that). It is about the quiet, careful work of preservation. A P90 Double Sun earring is a hybrid object: part jewellery, part hair accessory. Many of these pieces were designed with a clip or a screw-back mechanism that allowed them to double as hair ornaments, clipped onto a velvet headband or pinned into a chignon. Storing them properly means respecting both their metalwork and their mechanical function.

Understanding the P90 Double Sun Construction

Before you store anything, you must understand what you are handling. The P90 reference is not a universal manufacturer code; it likely originates from a specific costume jewellery line or a pattern number used by a British or American maker in the post-war period. Double sun earrings from this era typically feature:

• Base metal: Brass or copper, often gilt or gold-washed. Some higher-end examples use sterling silver or silver plate.
• Sunburst rays: Stamped, cut, or cast. The rays can be sharp and pointed (more common in the 1950s) or rounded and stylised (1960s–1970s).
• Closure mechanism: Clip-on (spring-loaded) or screw-back. Both types can be used as hair clips, but screw-backs offer more tension control.
• Surface finish: Polished, matte, or textured. Many pieces have a light lacquer to slow tarnishing.

The double sun design is symmetrical, which makes it satisfying to wear as a pair—one on each side of a low bun, or clipped onto the temples of a The Oversized Straw Hat: A 1920s Hair Accessory That Still Turns Heads for a beach-ready 1970s look. But symmetry in storage is equally important: store them as a pair, together, so you never lose one.

The Three Enemies of Vintage Metal Hair Accessories

Every vintage collector knows the triumvirate of damage: moisture, friction, and air. For P90 Double Sun earrings, these three factors are especially critical because of the intricate ray details and the spring mechanisms.

Moisture

Even a trace of humidity can cause brass to develop verdigris—a green, powdery corrosion that eats into the metal. Silver plate will tarnish faster in damp air. Never store your double sun earrings in a bathroom, a basement, or near a window where condensation forms. A silica gel packet inside your storage box is a simple, effective safeguard.

Friction

The sun rays are the most fragile part. If you toss the earrings loose into a jewellery box, they will scratch each other and catch on chains or other pieces. The rays can bend or snap if pressure is applied. Always separate them—either in individual soft pouches or in a compartmentalised box with fabric dividers.

Air

Oxygen is the catalyst for tarnish. For long-term storage, an airtight container is ideal. However, do not vacuum-seal them; a small amount of air circulation prevents the lacquer from becoming sticky. A lidded wooden box lined with velvet or felt strikes the right balance.

A Step-by-Step Storage Method for P90 Double Sun Earrings

Here is a practical routine that I have used for over a decade with my own collection. It takes five minutes and will save you hours of restoration work later.

1. Clean gently before storing. Use a soft, lint-free cloth (microfibre is excellent) to wipe away skin oils, dust, and hairspray residue. Do not use jewellery cleaning liquids unless you are certain the piece is un-lacquered. If in doubt, a dry cloth is safer.
2. Check the clips and screws. Open and close the clip mechanism once or twice to ensure it is not stiff. If a screw-back feels tight, apply a micro-drop of sewing machine oil to the screw thread—never to the earring post—and work it in. Then wipe away excess.
3. Wrap each earring individually. Use acid-free tissue paper or unbleached cotton muslin. Do not use newspaper or coloured tissue; the ink and dyes can transfer onto the metal over time.
4. Place them in a compartmentalised box. A vintage pillbox, a wooden thread spool holder, or a custom jewellery tray with separate slots works well. The goal is to prevent the earrings from touching each other or any other metal object.
5. Store flat, never hanging. Hanging earrings by their clips puts stress on the spring. Lay them flat with the clip side facing up.
6. Label the box. Write “P90 Double Sun – Gilt Brass – 1950s” on a small card. Ten years from now, you will thank yourself when you are searching for a specific pair.

When Storage Becomes Display: The Curator’s Approach

Some collectors prefer to display their P90 earrings rather than hide them in a drawer. This is perfectly valid—vintage accessories are meant to be seen. But display storage requires different rules. Keep them out of direct sunlight, which can fade the metal finish and degrade any remaining lacquer. A glass-topped display case with a UV-filtering lid is ideal. Alternatively, mount them on a velvet-covered bust form or a shadow box frame. Just ensure the mounting material is acid-free and that the earrings are secured without pinching the rays.

If you rotate your collection seasonally, the earrings that are not on display should still follow the storage steps above. I keep a “winter box” and a “summer box” for my vintage accessories. The P90 double sun pieces, with their bold, sunny silhouette, tend to live in the summer box from April to September. During the colder months, they rest in the dark, dry drawer, wrapped and labelled.

Common Mistakes That Damage Double Sun Earrings

Even experienced collectors make errors. Here are the most frequent ones I see with P90 and similar mid-century earrings:

• Storing them in plastic bags. Plastic can trap moisture and cause the metal to “sweat”. Use breathable fabric or acid-free paper instead.
• Using silver polishing cloths on gilt metal. Silver cloths contain chemicals that can strip the gold wash. Use a dedicated jewellery cloth for gilt or brass.
• Over-tightening screw-backs for storage. This compresses the padding inside the earring back and can distort the shape. Leave the screw slightly loose (one full turn) when not in use.
• Ignoring the spring. A clip-on earring that becomes too loose to stay on the earlobe can still be used as a hair clip, but if the spring rusts, the earring is ruined. A yearly inspection and a tiny drop of lightweight machine oil on the hinge will keep the mechanism alive.

Integrating P90 Double Sun Earrings into a Modern Hair Wardrobe

Storage is not the end of the story. These earrings were made to be worn, and they work beautifully in contemporary hairstyles. Clip a single double sun earring onto the side of a low ponytail for a 1970s revival look, or wear a pair as earrings with a simple black dress and a velvet headband. The key is to let the accessory be the focal point.

For those who love the interplay of textures, consider pairing the warm gilt of a P90 double sun with the soft pile of a black velvet scrunchie. The contrast between hard metal and plush fabric is visually striking and feels very British in its understated opulence. A related piece that complements this aesthetic is the Store P306 Black Velvet Scrunchiebow: A Collector's Guide, which shares the same mid-century reverence for sculptural form.

Final Practical Note: The Archive Record

If you are building a serious collection, create a simple paper or digital record for each pair of P90 Double Sun earrings you own. Note the approximate date of manufacture (if known), the metal composition, the closure type, any hallmarks or maker’s marks, and the date and place of purchase. This turns a storage box into a personal archive. It also helps you remember which pieces you have already cleaned and oiled, so you do not over-treat them.

One last detail: never store your double sun earrings with the clip pressed against a soft surface like a velvet pouch for months on end. The pressure can leave an indentation in the velvet, and the fabric fibres can get caught in the hinge. Instead, let the earring rest with the clip open, or place a small piece of acid-free card between the clip and the earring back. It is a tiny gesture, but it is the kind of care that separates a transient owner from a true custodian of vintage design.