SILVER DEFINITIONS  Please note for the purpose of clarification the word "silver/silvertone" used in the majority of descriptions is an indication of the COLOUR, and not the metal. Where real silver is used this will be indicated by a % content figure or will say "Genuine Silver"

THAI KAREN HILLTRIBE SILVER (97% Silver Content)

Beads & Baubles carries a range of Thai Karen Hill Tribe Silver. Please note that the whole range is TOTALLY handcrafted by the Karen Hill Tribe people - this is silver of the purest quality and approx. 97% silver content. The whole process is done by hand or primitive (if any) machinery - from the actual mining itself to the creation of these gorgeous pieces. These are collectors pieces as the traditional methods are giving way to the exploitation by large conglomerates who have built factories to mass produce thai silver products.  

PAKTONG SILVER (also called Nickel Silver, German Silver, Cupronickel, White Copper, Nickel Silver - % actual silver minimal or non-existant)

VERY BRIGHT & HARD, CORROSION AND TARNISH RESISTANT - despite its high copper & nickel content it remarkably is silver-coloured and sometimes marketed as imitation 925 silver (being of the same colouring and similar hardness). This is the naturally occuring Chinese Paktong Silver originating from the nickel mines in Yunnan, China (one of which is the 2nd largest in the world) and NOT German Silver (although the 2 being somewhat similar are sometimes confused). In fact many are under the impression that Paktong is a pseudonym for German Silver/Nickel Silver White Copper, however this is not the case, cupro-nickel was known as a unique naturally occurring alloy (mainly consisting of copper and nickel with smaller percecentage of other elements ) by the Chinese as early as 120 BCE in Yunnan; it was only during importation of white copper from China in the 18th century by Europeans that it gained increased interest. Efforts to exactly copy PAKTONG SILVER failed due to the requisite complex mix of ores required to form it that are present in the chinese mines, (later similar conditions in the elements required were found to exist in the German district of Schneeburg) and it was only after a prize was offered for the mastery of the process that German Silver was launched)..... [The above info partially from Wiki & other sources and some from my Chinese Supplier]

In beading products PAKTONG SILVER IS USED ON CCB (COPPER-COATED BEADS) - such as the "metallised acrylics" (thus explaining the high cost and exclusivity of these lovely components), and as 'CUPRONICKEL' items (coated or solid). It is also marketed as a higher quality "Tibetan Silver". 

TIBETAN SILVER (% actual silver minimal or non-existant)

"Tibetan silver is used primarily in jewellery components, and is similar to pewter - an alloy of copper, and sometimes tin or nickel, with a small"... (or non-existant) ..."percentage of silver. Its overall appearance is of aged silver, but it can be polished to provide highlights on complex castings. The nickel content is nowadays reduced or absent, due to common allergies to this metal. Currently, jewellery, beads and castings described as 'Tibetan Silver' tends to be a base iron 'cheese metal' casting, overlaid with this pewter and silver plating. Dependent on source, these can be either thick and robust, or attractive but easily broken due to a loose, fragile inner casting. The latter productions are therefore only suitable for small castings up to around 12mm, or transient 'fashion' jewellery with a short lifespan.... [Extract from From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]

Please note for the purpose of clarification the description Tibetan Silver is not an indication of the "silver-content" of the product, rather a description of the "look" and the "colour". Actual metals used (as in the wiki description provided above, vary from item to item, higher priced products obviously being of better quality than lower-priced - it is the consumers decision to purchase according to the price-class they prefer.