Fine jewelry is made to be worn, and made to last. With a little attention, your MIONZA pieces will keep their color, shine, and character for years — many of them for a lifetime. This guide covers everything you need to know, by material.

Before we get into materials, four habits protect all jewelry:

1. Last on, first off. Put your jewelry on after applying perfume, lotion, sunscreen, and hairspray. Take it off before washing your hands, showering, or exercising.
2. Keep it dry. Water itself rarely damages solid gold, but chlorine, salt water, and soap residue dull every metal over time.
3. Store pieces separately. Chains tangle and metals scratch each other. Give each piece its own pouch or compartment.
4. Wipe after wearing. A quick pass with a soft cloth removes oils and sweat before they build up. It takes five seconds and makes a real difference.

Solid gold is the most durable option in our collection. It will not tarnish, flake, or lose its color, because the gold runs all the way through.

What the karat means for care:

• 14K gold (58.5% pure gold) offers the classic balance of rich color and everyday strength. It resists tarnish almost entirely and is safe for daily wear.
• 10K gold (41.7% pure gold) is slightly harder and more scratch-resistant than 14K, with a subtler tone. The higher alloy content means it may very slowly develop a faint patina in some environments — a soft polish restores it instantly.
• 8K gold (33.3% pure gold) is the most durable of the three and the most resistant to scratches and bending. Like 10K, it can develop light surface patina over long periods, which polishes away easily.

How to care for solid gold:

• Wash occasionally in lukewarm water with a drop of mild dish soap. Soak for a few minutes, rinse, and pat dry with a lint-free cloth.
• Polish with a jewelry polishing cloth to bring back full shine.
• Solid gold can be worn daily, including while washing your hands. We still recommend removing it for swimming pools (chlorine) and the sea (salt).

Vermeil is a thick layer of 18K or 14K gold over a solid 925 sterling silver base. It is a precious metal through and through — the difference from solid gold is the construction, not the quality of the materials.

How to care for vermeil:

• Treat vermeil more gently than solid gold. The gold layer is thick by industry standards, but it is still a layer.
• Remove before showering, swimming, exercising, and sleeping.
• Keep away from perfume, lotion, and hand sanitizer — apply these first, let them dry, then put your jewelry on.
• Clean with a soft, dry cloth only. Do not use liquid cleaners, ultrasonic cleaners, or polishing cloths treated with chemicals — these can wear the gold layer.
• Store in an airtight pouch or box away from humidity. This protects both the gold surface and the silver beneath it.

With this routine, vermeil keeps its color for years. If the gold layer eventually wears at high-contact points, the piece can be re-plated.

Our gold plated pieces carry a fine layer of gold over a solid 925 sterling silver base. They offer the look of gold at an accessible price, and they reward careful handling.

How to care for gold plated jewelry:

• Water and chemicals are the main concern. Remove before showering, washing dishes, swimming, and exercising.
• Never spray perfume or apply lotion while wearing plated jewelry.
• Wipe with a soft, dry cloth after each wear. Do not use polishing cloths or liquid cleaners — they can remove the plating.
• Store each piece in its own airtight pouch, away from sunlight and humidity.

Plated jewelry is best treated as occasion wear rather than 24/7 wear. Handled this way, the finish lasts significantly longer.

Sterling silver (92.5% pure silver) is a classic for a reason: it is beautiful, durable, and easy to restore. Silver naturally tarnishes over time — this is a surface reaction with sulfur in the air, not a flaw, and it is fully reversible.

How to care for sterling silver:

• The best protection is regular wear. The natural oils of your skin slow tarnishing, so pieces you wear often stay brighter than pieces left in a drawer.
• When tarnish appears, polish with a silver polishing cloth. For detailed pieces, wash in lukewarm water with mild dish soap, wipe gently with a soft cloth, then dry completely.
• Avoid contact with chlorine, sulfur-rich environments (hot springs, some spas), rubber, and household cleaners — these accelerate tarnish.
• Store in an airtight pouch with an anti-tarnish strip if possible. Humidity is silver's main enemy in storage.

For solid gold and sterling silver:

1. Fill a bowl with lukewarm water and add one drop of mild dish soap.
2. Soak the piece for 5–10 minutes.
3. Gently wipe crevices, settings, and chain links with a soft cloth.
4. Rinse in clean water and pat dry with a lint-free cloth.
5. Let it air-dry completely before storing.

For vermeil and plated pieces: skip the soak. A soft, dry cloth is all you need.

What to avoid on any piece: toothpaste, baking soda, vinegar, and other home remedies. They are abrasive or acidic and cause more harm than good.

• Keep jewelry in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
• Use individual pouches or a compartmented jewelry box.
• Fasten clasps before storing chains to prevent tangling.
• For silver and vermeil, airtight storage with an anti-tarnish strip keeps pieces bright between wears.
• If you travel, use a dedicated jewelry roll or case — loose jewelry in a toiletry bag is how chains break and stones loosen.