Half the questions we get about idols and serveware are really one question: is this real silver? For anything described as German silver the answer is no, and the name is the whole reason for the confusion.

The material

German silver is an alloy of copper, nickel and zinc. It contains no silver at all. It is used because it takes a bright silver-tone polish, resists tarnish better than plain brass, and costs a fraction of precious metal. On a puja tray or a Ganesha figure that is exactly what most buyers want: the look, at a gift price.

Telling the difference

• Weight. Lighter than solid brass of the same size, heavier than polyresin.
• Wear. Plating wears at the edges to a yellow tone; German silver stays the same colour throughout because it is not plated.
• Marks. Hallmarked silver carries a BIS mark. Nothing on this site does.

Care

Wipe with a dry cloth after handling, keep it out of damp cupboards, and use a mild polish once or twice a year. Do not soak it.

How we list it

Every product page names the material as supplied to us. We can help you compare with the specifications listed, and we do not describe anything here as precious metal.