Fine jewelry is built to last generations — but only if you treat it right. Here's how jewelers care for gold and diamond pieces, so yours look new for decades.
Everyday Habits That Protect Your Jewelry
- Last on, first off. Put jewelry on after lotions, perfumes, and hairspray — chemicals dull finishes and can damage gemstones.
- Take rings off for the gym, gardening, cleaning, and swimming. Chlorine attacks gold alloys; impact can loosen stones.
- Store separately. Diamonds scratch everything — including other diamonds. Keep pieces in separate pouches or compartments.
- White gold note: its bright finish comes from rhodium plating, which wears over 12–24 months. Re-plating at a jeweler restores the like-new look.
How to Clean Diamond Jewelry at Home
Soak for 20–30 minutes in warm water with a few drops of mild dish soap, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush (especially under the stone where lotion builds up), rinse, and pat dry with a lint-free cloth. Do this monthly — you'll be shocked how much brilliance comes back. Never use bleach, abrasives, or ultrasonic cleaners on fragile settings without a jeweler's okay.
Caring for Gold
14K gold is durable but not indestructible — it picks up fine scratches with daily wear, which a professional polish removes in minutes. Store gold away from silver to avoid tarnish transfer. Rose and yellow gold need nothing more than occasional soap-and-water cleaning.
When to Visit a Jeweler
Once a year, have your pieces checked: prongs tighten, stones re-seated, clasps inspected. A yearly checkup prevents the heartbreak of a lost diamond — ask your jeweler about pricing. Bring your Mia Jewelry pieces to our Deerfield Beach boutique and ask about our inspection and cleaning services.
What to Avoid
- Swimming pools and hot tubs (chlorine + heat)
- Household cleaners, bleach, acetone
- Wearing fine jewelry during sports or heavy labor
- "Home remedies" like toothpaste — it's abrasive and dulls polish
Buy it once, care for it simply, wear it forever. Explore gold jewelry and diamond pieces built to become heirlooms — and join our insider list for news and offers.