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TYPES OF SILVER

2. What is the difference between Solid Sterling, Sterling Overlay, Silver Plated, Alpaca, and German Silver/Nickle Silver?
The quality is this from best and most expensive to the least quality and expense:
a. Solid Sterling - is 925/1000 or 92.5% silver, and 7.5% copper, this is fixed by law to be called "Sterling Silver"
b. Sterling Overlay or Overlaid - is a layer of 25% solid sterling overlaid onto another metal. Overlay hold it's brilliance and will
last many years.
c. Silver Plated - is made by electroplating fine silver on a base metal alloy, usually of nickelsilver, Britannia metal, brass or
copper. This costs less, but will wear through and not hold it's brilliance.
d. Alpaca/ German Silver /Nickle Plate ( an alloy of coper, nickle and zinc, generally a mix of 10% nickel, 50% Copper, and
49% zinc and really contains no silver at all)

The saddle silver on the left is silver plated, with gold tones and a copper colored center. The breastcollar center on the right is sterling overlay with a jewelers bronze edge and flowers. The engraving time on each is significant, the major difference however is the cost of the materials they are made out of. Sterling silver overlay is over 5 times more expensive.