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What is nickel silver

I have a very early scrolled compact with a real butterfly on the top,when you open it up, beside the mirror it sais nickel silver, can you tell me what that is and what that means, is that quality silver or junk, the compact itself is beautiful, with lots of scroll work, but I don't know what nickel silver is, thanks if you can tell me, have a great day.

Ralpha Zanger
- Ottumwa, Iowa, USA
2005

Good afternoon:

Nickel silvers are copper alloys containing nickel and zinc. There is more information on these alloys at the Copper Development Association website.

Steve Bizub
- St Louis, Missouri

Nickel Silver is not real silver, it goes by a number of names (German silver is another common one). The metal is auctualy a copper/tin alloy (sometimes nickel or another metal is used), it's bright, cheap to make and holds up to age very well, it is commonly used for beginning jeweley making due to it's low price and high lusture.

Overall I wouldn't worry too much about what the item is made of, it sounds like you have a very nice compact that will last you for years.

Marc Banks
- Elizabeth City, North Carolina

The term nickel silver is a bit misleading, it contains no silver. Nickel silver is made mostly of copper (usually 50-70%) and the rest is nickel and zinc. It has no value as a precious metal but I wouldn't call it junk...many beautiful pieces of art have been made from this material (mokume workings come to mind)

Jason Aube
- Flint, Michigan

Nickel silver is silver white copper based alloy(6o Cu/2oNi/2o Zn,or similar)!

Goran Budija
- Cerovski vrh Croatia

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