Jewelry Care

Gold and diamonds are durable, not indestructible. A few habits keep a piece looking the way it did the day it left the bench.

The three rules that do most of the work

• Last on, first off. Jewelry goes on after lotion, perfume, and hairspray, and comes off before the gym, the pool, and the garden. Chlorine is genuinely hard on gold alloys.
• Store pieces apart. Diamond scratches gold, and chains tangle. Original box, a lined tray, or a pouch per piece — chains fastened and laid flat.
• Look at it occasionally. If a stone rattles, ticks, or moves under a fingertip, stop wearing the piece and bring it in. A loose stone caught early is a five-minute tighten; caught late, it's a search of the sidewalk.

Cleaning

Warm water, a drop of dish soap, a soft brush, ten minutes of soaking. That handles gold, platinum, and diamonds — it's what we use at the counter for a quick clean. Rinse over a closed drain, dry with a soft cloth.

Skip ultrasonic cleaners at home. They're fine for a plain diamond in a sound setting, and quietly destructive for emeralds, opals, pearls, and anything with a stone you're not sure about. When in doubt, soap and water — or bring it to us.

Watches

A microfiber wipe-down for smudges, away from strong magnets, and out of extreme heat. A watch is a machine; anything past surface cleaning belongs with a watch team, not a sink.

Once a year

Bring your pieces in for a professional clean and inspection — prongs checked, clasps tested, settings gone over under the loupe. It's the single habit that most extends a piece's life.

Mazalito · 76 W 47th Street, New York, NY 10036 · Walk-ins welcome