EPNS

[KenM]

What exactly does this term imply? Does this mean Electro plated Nickel silver? Nickel silver as I understand it is fake metal that looks somewhat like silver.
Does that stamp then mean that the piece is made with this fake material or is it fake material and then electroplated with real silver?

Thanks

[2209patrick]

EPNS means the base metal under the silverplate is a nickel silver alloy.

Check out electroplating in the glossary:
http://www.925-1000.com/silverglossary2.html

Pat.

[KenM]

Thanks very much

[kerangoumar]

Ken

it is not fake material; it just is not silver; among other base metals that are plated (or have been):

copper
EPNS - nickel silver
Britannia metal - tin/antimony
brass
lead
EPWM - electroplated white metal

then there are the variations on "nationality silver" all of which are not silver:

German silver
Brazil silver
Argentine silver etc
etc
and Alpaca (which one sees a lot on Mexican jewellery.

as long as they are marked clearly as plated metal there is no fakery.