veneered, solid and German or alpaca

The different types of silver used to make jewelery are often not known to the public who struggle to differentiate at first glance the type of metal used.

Yet it is important, because if silver is a precious metal, which justifies the price of solid silver jewelry, this is not the case for the poor metals used to make plated jewelry or using alpaca.

Solid silver necklace

Huge money

In the sense defined by French law, silver is said to be solid and is recognized as a precious metal if it comprises at least 80% pure silver by mass.

The hallmark placed on the jewel establishes the quality of the silver used for its manufacture: the most common are 800 silver, 925 silver known as sterling silver and 950 silver.

A piece of solid silver jewelry has a longer lifespan. Adequate maintenance allows you to maintain its brilliance without ever fearing that repeated rubbing could make it disappear. Furthermore, as it ages it can take on a patina of color that can be maintained.

In case of bumps and deep scratches it can be brushed and then polished to restore its original appearance. You can also consider modifying it, it will be possible to cut it, weld it and integrate other stones.

Solid silver rings inlaid with precious wood (find out more here)

silver plated

Silver-plated jewelry is made of a poor metal covered with a layer of pure silver deposited by electrolysis.

The process consists of immersing the jewel in a solution containing silver ions and circulating a current; this causes these ions to deposit on any metal jewelry.

The surface layer of silver can be between a few microns and several tenths of a millimeter thick. The amount of money actually used is extremely small.

We can recognize these plated jewels by weighing them with our hands, we realize in an instant that they are lighter than a solid silver jewel.

Over time, due to shock and friction, the surface layer of silver can disappear and reveal the base metal which is another color. Wear quickly reveals the true nature of the jewel.

Silver plated elven tiara made for a wedding. (find out more here)

German money

Also called Alpaca, German silver is the name of a metal alloy that unmistakably imitates the reflections of silver.

Composed of zinc, nickel and copper, this alloy has been known for centuries and is today used by industry, particularly in the manufacture of electrical contacts.

It is lighter than silver and oxidizes quickly, taking on a greenish color; unlike silver which is a precious metal that is very resistant to oxidation, but which reacts with sulphides and blackens.

Alpaca bracelet showing how shiny alpaca looks like silver. Most often, these jewels are largely inlaid with other materials.

Jewelry made of German silver has the «alpaca» hallmark. It is very common to find this type of jewelry in Latin America. However, they are composed of nickel, which is a natural allergen. This is why the sale of nickel is very controlled in France.

French law prohibits the sale of skin products containing nickel. This obviously concerns jewelry. Consult the text of the decree.

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