For the present time

Q: What is the difference between Sterling Silver and silver plate?

A: Sterling Silver is the legal hallmarking quality standard for items made of an alloy of Silver containing 92.5% pure Silver and 7.5% of other metals, usually Copper. Silver plate refers to electro-deposited pure silver on a base metal - often Nickel Silver or Copper - this should not be confused with Sheffield plate which is a mechanically layered combination of silver and copper that was used for many years to produce a wide range of household articles.