Words of the Week
What is German Silver?
German Silver
German Silver is an alloy that is made of approximately 60% copper, 20% nickel and 20% zinc, with 5 % tin. It contains no actual silver. It is also commonly referred to as nickel silver, although this is an erroneous term for it. It was invented in the mid 1800s in Germany as a substitute for silver.
Occasionally a piece of German silver will be silver plated. The alloy is hard and tough but quite malleable. It is harder than silver, and has a similar color, although with a grayish tinge. When exposed to the air, German Silver tarnishes a slightly yellow color. It is often hallmarked with the number 800.
Examples of German Silver: (click the pictures for more detail)
Photo Credit Charm Chatter |
© 2007 Vintage Jewelry Lane |
Photo credit: antiquehelper.com |
To view other articles on other vintage words, please visit the word of the week archives.
