What is Sterling Silver Overlay?

What is Sterling Silver Overlay?



OVERLAY is a process of taking nickel silver and applying a layer of solid sterling
silver....it is many times thicker than "Plated". The overlay is then engraved,
etc....whereas plated items are engraved and then plated with a very thin electro
plate of silver.

The process of using sterling silver overlay is done by the finest silversmith. It has the great appearance of solid sterling at a reduced cost but will far out last plated products.

Of course there are good quality plated items and cheap quality plated items. Not all plated items are cheap....for instance some of the finest dinnerware (forks, spoons, etc) are plated.

Sterling overlay is much better and more expensive than plated but not as high a solid sterling silver.