If you're shopping for jewellery, the words on the label matter more than the price. Here's what they actually mean.

14K gold plated

A thin layer of gold bonded over a base metal (often stainless steel or brass). It gives you the look of gold at a fraction of the cost. It's perfect for everyday wearing and mixing, but it's a finish, not solid gold - so avoid harsh chemicals and heavy abrasion, and keep it away from perfume where you can. With reasonable care, plated pieces hold their colour well.

316L stainless steel

A tough, corrosion-resistant metal that's a common choice for people with sensitive skin. It doesn't tarnish easily and handles daily wear and water better than most. If you want something you can genuinely forget you're wearing, this is the one.

925 sterling silver

92.5% solid silver. It's a step up in material and feels more substantial, and it can be polished back to new. It can tarnish over time, especially in humid air, so it likes a wipe-down and a dry place to live.

Brass

A warm, affordable base metal often used for plated pieces and statement styles. On its own it will patina, which some people love and others don't - plated brass keeps its colour for longer.

How to look after all of them

• Put jewellery on last and take it off first - after perfume and hairspray, before the gym.
• Wipe with a soft dry cloth after wearing.
• Store pieces separately so they don't scratch each other.
• For silver, a silver polishing cloth brings back the shine.

None of this is complicated. The honest version: plated and stainless-steel pieces are ideal for everyday, trend-led wear; sterling silver is the one to keep and look after. Match the material to how you'll actually wear it.