How to Keep Gold Looking New in Dubai's Heat and Humidity

Gold does not rust or tarnish, which is why it has been jewellery for five thousand years. But the alloy in 18K and 21K, and the skin oils, sunscreen and salt of a Gulf summer, will dull a polish within weeks. Care is mostly habit.

Five daily habits

1. Last on, first off. Perfume, hairspray and sunscreen go on before the jewellery, never over it.
2. No pools, no sea. Chlorine and salt water attack the alloy and loosen settings. Take rings and bracelets off before swimming.
3. No gym, no cleaning, no cooking. Sweat, detergents and knocks are where most scratches happen.
4. Wipe after wearing. A soft cloth, ten seconds, before it goes back in the box.
5. Store apart. Each piece in its own pouch. Gold scratches gold, and chains tangle.

The two-minute clean at home

Warm water, a drop of mild dish soap, ten minutes soaking, then a soft toothbrush behind stones and inside links. Rinse under warm water, pat dry with a lint-free cloth. That is all yellow gold needs. Do not use toothpaste, baking soda or ultrasonic cleaners on pieces with stones.

White gold and stones

White gold is plated with rhodium, which wears over a year or two and shows as a warm tint; our goldsmiths re-plate it, quoted before the work starts. Pavé and solitaire settings should be checked once a year for loose prongs; catching a stone before it falls is much cheaper than replacing it.

Chains and bracelets

Undo the clasp before storing so the chain lies straight. If a chain has knotted, do not pull: a drop of oil and a pin will open it. Check the clasp spring every few months; if it has softened, bring it in.

Travel

Use the Mazimo pouches, not a shared bag. Keep pieces in hand luggage, and keep the certificate or tracking code with you: it is what insurance and customs ask for.

What to leave to us

Deep cleaning and polishing, complimentary on Mazimo pieces for as long as you own them; bring them in whenever you pass the boutique. Re-plating, tightening stones and restringing are done by our goldsmiths and quoted before we start; manufacturing faults are covered by the lifetime warranty.

At Mazimo. Every piece is weighed in front of you at Al Manal Center, Deira, priced on the live gold rate of the day, and leaves with a certificate of purity and a tracking code you can check any time at mazimo.ae/track. Delivery across the UAE is insured and complimentary; unworn pieces can be exchanged within 48 hours of delivery.