Maintaining Handmade Jewelry - as part of the Women's Style series by GeoBeats. Hi, my name is Katie Thompson from KT collection in New York city. The best advice on how to take care of your jewelry is the most important step which is asking what the jewelry is made of when you purchase it. So, when you purchase a piece of jewelry, find out if the metal is plated, if its sterling is silver, if it is 14 carat gold fill, if its sterling silver is dipped in gold, or if it is 14 carat gold. The price point will often give you indicators on what metal it is but you should still ask where you are purchasing it to have that information. Once you have that information, there are different rules on how to take care of it. If the jewelry is plated it is absolutely fine to hung on the little hooks that you have in your bathroom, you do not have to, you know, put it in the special jewelry cases. However, you do have to be more careful wearing it on days where you know you are going to be perspiring, where you have sun cream on and perfume, and you definitely do not want to wear it to the gym or in the pool etc. Because the life span is going to be a lot lower on platen jewelry. If it is sterling silver and gold filled, it is going to have, and vermeil, it is going to have longer life span, but you still need to be careful taking care of it. Again, do not wear it in the ocean, do not wear it in the pool. It is best to take it off for the shower, but you can leave it on in the shower every now and then, and store it in a case that protects it from outside elements, do not hang it on the little hook in your bathroom. If it is 14 carat gold, platinum etc. You just need to keep it in a nice jewelry case that also protects it from outside elements but you do not have to be quite as careful.