![\"silver](\"https:\/\/www.edinburghsilver.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/0007es.jpg\")
Thats before the silver plate wears off from polishing and dusting your picture frame. Poor quality picture frames will last no longer than 18 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cheap Silver Vs Quality Silver <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It is almost as expensive today to make a good quality silver plated photograph frame as it is to make an average quality solid silver frame. So, why is it then that there are hundreds of so-called silver-plated frames. Especially online and in gift shops costing less than a tenner?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Low Quality Imports <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
I asked myself the same question. So I did some research and here is the answer. Zinc really must be the new silver. These so-called silver-plated photo frames are mostly made in China, some in India. The base metal is low quality zinc. Then plated with less than one third of a single micron of silver plating. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Lacquer Coating <\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Then coated with a thick layer of lacquer to prevent the \u201csilver\u201d tarnishing. I suspect the lacquer is being used more to keep the microscopic amount of plating intact as much as it is to prevent tarnishing. Also, the lacquer does prevent tarnishing, which is just as well, because if you were to use a silver cleaner on the frame you would remove what little silver there is in very quick time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cheap Imitation Silver Photo Frames <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
So, why use a low-quality metal like zinc well. Its simple really, zinc is cheap and is roughly, when treated, the same colour as silver. One third of a single micron of silver is almost no silver, so it is conveniently helpful if the base metal is the same colour. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Do these \u201csilver plated\u201d frames actually look like silver, well, not when compared to a real silver-plated frame no, they look like shiny zinc with a heavy anti-tarnish lacquer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The good news they are cheap, very cheap, unfortunately, they also look cheap \u2013 still you can\u2019t have everything. A good quality 7×5 silver plated frame<\/a> will cost you about \u00a360.00 if you can find one. So, under a tenner is not bad if you accept that zinc is the new silver even though it doesn\u2019t look much like silver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is interesting to note, that all the suppliers I contacted did not know the country of manufacture. Consequently or what even a micron of silver is let alone how many their photo frames had. They did not know what was used in the manufacture of the frames they are selling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n One seller did proudly claim. That although he was not sure what a micron was, his frames were plated with a full one single micron. Which he did then claim was well in excess of what other frames offered. Sadly he is right, while a single micron of silver plating is very poor in the extreme. Especially with a \u00a350.00 plus price tag it is as he claimed, three times better than one third \u2013 the industry standard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My problem with all of this is not just the selling poor quality frames. But the fact they are being sold as a high-quality product. So beware if it costs a tenner it is because it is worth a tenner. A tenner does not buy you a high-quality product. If you are buying silver or silver-plated items. Always ask where they are made. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Never accept a 925 stamp<\/a> as proof that it is real silver. Real silver has a proper hallmark, and if it is silver plated anything with less than 10 microns of plating is as much use as a chocolate watch. So always ask and at Edinburgh Silver<\/a> we are always happy to talk to our customers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Zinc is not the new silver \u2013 it is just zinc with a tiny plating of silver and a lot of anti-tarnish lacquer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ensure you buy quality silver goods. One way to tell is that the Zinc base metal items weigh much less than the real thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coming soon: Why if everyone is making silver gifts thinner, lighter and abroad are Edinburgh Silver making them heavier, thicker and still all hand crafted here in the UK \u2013 what\u2019s that all about???<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silver plated jewelry is either pure but usually\u00a0sterling<\/strong>\u00a0silver plated over a base metal , whereas \u201cSterling<\/strong>\u00a0silver\u201d is .925 silver with a .075 additive, usually\u00a0copper\ufeff<\/strong><\/p> <\/div> One micron is one thousandth of a millimetre as an approximate guide. The is the guide relating to silver work. If something is quoted as having 1 micron of silver then thats the approx thinks of silver on that item<\/p> <\/div> Each micron of silver last around one year before it wears out. Thats why at Edinburgh Silver we recommend and sell Silver picture frames with 10 microns of silver. ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.edinburghsilver.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/poor-qulaity-frame--1024x681.jpg\")
When Its To Good To Be True <\/h5>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.edinburghsilver.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/ring-peel-2.jpg\")
The Provenance Of Silver <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Trusted Traders <\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Deception Of Silver <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Hallmarks Of Quality <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Conclusion Is Zinc the New Silver<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"zinc](\"https:\/\/www.edinburghsilver.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/zinc-roof--1024x683.jpg\")
The Next Post <\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Common Q & A About Silver <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"hallmark](\"https:\/\/www.edinburghsilver.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/britannia.gif\"\/)
![\"958](\"https:\/\/www.edinburghsilver.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_0942_2.jpg\"\/)
<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n