Caring for silver‑plated pieces

Each piece is cast in solid brass, coated with a layer of real silver 0.2 micron thick, then sealed under a clear lacquer. The silver gives the finish; the lacquer protects it from air. That seal is why these pieces stay bright without the yearly polishing that raw silver demands.

The number matters when you compare shops. Unplated "German silver" has no silver in it at all, and unsealed plating tarnishes just like sterling. A stated micron thickness with a lacquer coat is the honest middle: real silver on the surface, at a fraction of sterling's price, protected from the air that blackens it.

Bare silver plate tarnishes exactly like sterling, because tarnish is silver reacting with sulphur in the air. Lacquered plate resists it: the sealed coat keeps air off the silver. The finish lasts as long as the lacquer does, which is why the card forbids polish, acids and solvents; they strip the seal that does the protecting.

Sterling silver is solid precious metal: an investment, priced accordingly, and it needs regular polishing. Lacquered silver plate gives the same look for far less, needs almost no upkeep, and suits gifts chosen for beauty rather than bullion value. For return gifts in quantity, plate is almost always the sensible choice.