Caring for your jewellery

Once your Sophelia piece is home, a little care will ensure it stays beautiful for years to come. Here’s how to wear, store, and clean your jewellery so it keeps its shine.

Wearing

To preserve your jewellery’s finish, avoid prolonged contact with water (such as swimming or bathing) and keep it away from creams, lotions, perfumes, and other chemicals.

We recommend putting your jewellery on last and taking it off first; this helps prevent snagging or accidental damage. Always remove pieces using their fastenings rather than pulling or tugging, to protect clasps and settings. 

Storing

Store your jewellery in a cool, dry place. Ideally, keep pieces in an airtight box away from direct sunlight. If you’re using a standard jewellery box, adding silica gel packets can help reduce moisture. Make sure you store items separately from each other, so they don’t scratch each other. 

Avoid storing items near sulphur-based materials (such as paper, cardboard, or cotton-filled boxes), as these can cause tarnishing. It’s also best to keep jewellery out of humid areas like bathrooms.

Cleaning

Regular gentle cleaning will keep your jewellery bright and help you spot any signs of wear early.

For everyday care, lightly wipe your jewellery up and down (rather than in circles) with a soft, lint-free or jewellery cloth.

For a deeper clean, use a mild solution of warm water and gentle dish soap. Dampen a cloth and wipe the piece carefully, or use a very soft toothbrush for delicate areas. This can also remove any tarnishing. Make sure your jewellery is thoroughly dry before returning it to storage.

Take care with commercial cleaning products such as solutions or ultrasonic devices – they are suitable for harder stones like diamonds and thicker plating, but may damage more delicate finishes. When in doubt, mild soap and water is the safest option.

Some stones, including opals, turquoise, and pearls, are particularly sensitive. For these, simply use a lightly damp cloth rather than soaking or using cleaning solutions.

Metal-specific care

With all our metals, the aim is to avoid abrasives and excess moisture, and only clean gently with a soft polishing cloth. Here’s some more information on looking after each metal. 

  • 18ct gold filled: durable, but keep it protected from prolonged exposure to moisture and chemicals. 

  • 18ct gold vermeil: avoid excess rubbing or polishing as it can wear away the gold layer. 

  • 18ct gold-plated sterling silver: the gold will naturally wear away over time. Avoid friction and abrasive cleaning materials.

  • 18ct gold-plated brass: the brass may naturally tarnish if the plating wears away over time. Keep it dry and avoid prolonged humidity to extend the life of the plating.

  • 18ct gold plated stainless steel: the stainless steel is really durable, but you still need to protect the plating from scratches and abrasion. Avoid abrasive cleaners and rough surfaces.

  • 925 Sterling Silver with rhodium plating: rhodium is durable, but will gradually wear with everyday use. Avoid polishing compounds which can remove the rhodium finish.

  • Rhodium-plated brass: excess friction can wear away the rhodium, exposing the brass to tarnishing. Avoid polishing compounds and abrasive cloths. 

1 year warranty

All our items are covered by the Sophelia1 year warranty. That means if you notice any manufacturer’s defects within a year of purchase, we’ll sort it for you. Find out about our warranty here