How to Care for Your Jewellery So It Lasts for Years

How to Care for Your Jewellery So It Lasts for Years

Jewellery care guide · Gold plated & sterling silver · kataleya.co.uk

You’ve found a piece you love. It arrived beautifully packaged, it catches the light perfectly, and it feels like it was made for you. Now you want to know — how do I make it last?

The good news is that Kataleya jewellery is built to go the distance. Our pieces are independently tested for corrosion resistance and made from materials chosen specifically for their durability. But like anything worth keeping, a little care makes all the difference.

This guide covers everything — what to do, what to avoid, how to clean your pieces, and how to store them properly. Bookmark it, share it, and come back to it whenever you need a reminder. 🌿

First — know what your piece is made of

Different materials need slightly different care. Here’s a quick guide to what’s in your Kataleya jewellery:

 

Gold plated pieces	A stainless steel base with a gold plated finish. Independently lab tested and CE certified. Durable, waterproof, hypoallergenic and tarnish-resistant — but the gold layer benefits from a little TLC to stay looking its best long-term.
Sterling silver pieces	925 sterling silver — 92.5% pure silver. Independently tested under EU REACH regulations. Naturally beautiful and long-lasting, though silver can develop a natural patina over time which is easily removed.

 

Not sure which you have? Check your order confirmation and the product page on kataleya.co.uk — every listing specifies the material.

Caring for your gold plated pieces

Our gold plated jewellery is made to be worn every day — and it is genuinely built for real life. Salt spray tested and CE certified, it handles daily wear, sweat, and light water exposure with ease. Here’s how to keep it at its best:

 

✅  DO — keep your jewellery looking its best

✨  Put your jewellery on last — after perfume, moisturiser and hairspray have fully absorbed into your skin

✨  Wipe your pieces with a soft dry cloth after wearing to remove sweat and oils

✨  Store in the pouch or box provided when not wearing — keeps pieces separate and scratch-free

✨  Clean gently with a soft damp cloth if needed, then dry immediately

✨  Wear it daily — these pieces are made for everyday life

 

❌  DON’T — avoid these to protect your pieces

🚫  Spray perfume or hairspray directly onto your jewellery

🚫  Expose to bleach, chlorine pools, or harsh cleaning chemicals

🚫  Leave on while using hand sanitiser repeatedly throughout the day

🚫  Store loose in a bag where pieces can scratch each other

🚫  Scrub with abrasive cloths, toothbrushes or harsh cleaning products

 

💡 An honest note: our pieces are salt spray tested and handle everyday water exposure well — showers, sweat, and splashes are fine. However, prolonged exposure to strong chemicals like bleach, chlorine pools, and harsh cleaning products can affect any metal finish over time. That’s why we include aftercare guidance with every order.

 

Caring for your sterling silver pieces

Sterling silver is one of the most beautiful and timeless materials in jewellery. It’s also one of the most forgiving — silver can be easily restored even if it develops a natural patina over time.

 

✅  DO — keep your jewellery looking its best

✨  Wear it regularly — the natural oils in your skin actually help maintain silver’s shine

✨  Polish gently with a soft silver cloth to restore shine

✨  Store in an airtight pouch or box to slow natural oxidation

✨  Clean with warm water and a tiny drop of mild washing up liquid, then rinse and dry thoroughly

✨  Use a silver polishing cloth for occasional deeper cleaning

 

❌  DON’T — avoid these to protect your pieces

🚫  Leave in humid environments like bathrooms for extended periods

🚫  Use toothpaste or baking soda to clean — these are too abrasive

🚫  Expose to bleach or chlorine

🚫  Store in direct sunlight or extreme heat

🚫  Leave makeup, perfume or lotion on the surface for long periods

 

💡 If your sterling silver develops a darker patina over time — this is completely natural and not a sign of damage. It’s simply silver oxidising with air. A gentle polish with a silver cloth will restore its original shine in seconds.

 

How to clean your Kataleya jewellery

For most pieces, a quick wipe with a soft dry cloth after wearing is all you need. But for a deeper clean:

 

For gold plated pieces:

•       Fill a small bowl with lukewarm water and one drop of mild washing up liquid

•       Dip a soft cloth or cotton pad into the water 

•       Gently wipe the surface in a circular motion

•       Rinse the cloth with clean water and wipe again to remove any soap residue

•       Pat dry immediately with a clean soft cloth 

•       Leave to air dry completely before storing

 

For sterling silver pieces:

•       Mix lukewarm water with a tiny drop of mild washing up liquid

•       Gently clean with a soft cloth or very soft toothbrush for intricate designs

•       Rinse with clean lukewarm water

•       Dry thoroughly with a soft cloth

•       Buff with a silver polishing cloth to restore shine

 

Never use ultrasonic cleaners on gold plated pieces or any pieces with gemstones, turquoise or crystal settings — the vibrations can erode the plating and damage or loosen stones.

 

How to store your jewellery

How you store your pieces when you’re not wearing them makes a bigger difference than most people realise. Here’s what we recommend:

 

•       Keep pieces in the individual pouch or box they arrived in — this prevents scratching and slows tarnishing

•       Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and humidity

•       Keep necklaces fastened or laid flat to prevent tangling and chain kinks

•       Store earrings in pairs so you never lose one

•       If storing long-term, place a small anti-tarnish strip in your jewellery box — available cheaply online

 

The 30-second care routine that makes all the difference

You don’t need to spend hours caring for your jewellery. This simple routine takes less than a minute and keeps your pieces looking beautiful indefinitely:

 

🌅 Morning	Put jewellery on last, after all skincare and fragrance
🌚 Evening	Take pieces off and give each one a quick wipe with a soft cloth
📦 Storage	Place back in pouch or box — don’t leave on a surface overnight
📅 Weekly	Check clasps and settings — better to catch anything early
🧹 Monthly	Deeper clean with lukewarm water and mild soap if needed

 

Why you can trust that our pieces are built to last

We’re not just asking you to take our word for it. Kataleya pieces are independently tested by RTS Test Co., Ltd — an accredited third-party laboratory — and CE certified under EU REACH regulations.

Our gold plated pieces have passed salt spray testing — the industry standard for corrosion and water resistance. Our entire range has been tested for nickel, lead and cadmium release, with zero nickel detected across all trials.

That’s the kind of quality that lasts. You can read the full details and view our certificates on our Why You Can Trust Kataleya page 

Ready to find your next piece?

Now you know how to look after your jewellery, the only question is — which piece are you adding next? Browse the full Kataleya collection and find something you’ll love wearing every single day.

 

Shop the Kataleya collection → kataleya.co.uk