What is German silver jewellery?
German silver is an alloy of copper, nickel and zinc. Despite the name it contains no silver at all - it is called German silver for its silvery-white colour and the German workshops that developed it in the nineteenth century. It is also sold as nickel silver or alpaca.
It has been the working metal of Indian statement jewellery for generations, for good reasons. It casts crisply, so temple motifs and fine kundan settings hold their detail. It is light, which is what lets a bridal choker be worn through a full day of ceremonies. And it takes a gold or antique polish beautifully, which is the finish you see on every piece above.
Because the metal is affordable, the money goes into the work rather than the bullion - the setting, the stones and the hand finishing. That is a deliberate choice, and it is why a Yantraa jewel is priced as craft rather than as an investment in metal.
Questions about the jewels
Is German silver real silver?
No. German silver is an alloy of copper, nickel and zinc and contains no silver. The name comes from its silvery-white colour and its nineteenth-century German origin. It is also called nickel silver or alpaca, and it is the traditional working metal for Indian temple and statement jewellery.
Will German silver jewellery tarnish?
It will darken slowly with exposure to air, moisture and perfume, which is normal for the alloy. Keep pieces dry, put jewellery on after perfume rather than before, store them in a soft pouch away from humidity, and wipe with a dry cloth after wear. An antique-polished piece is meant to deepen slightly with age.
Is German silver safe if I have sensitive skin?
It contains nickel, which a small number of people react to. If you know you are nickel-sensitive, tell the atelier before ordering and say which pieces sit against the skin longest. Earrings and chokers are the usual trouble spots, and there are alternatives we can discuss for those.
Why choose German silver over gold for bridal jewellery?
Weight and scale. A full bridal choker in gold is heavy enough to be uncomfortable over a long ceremony and costly enough to limit its size. In German silver the same design can be made larger and bolder, worn comfortably all day, and the budget goes into the stone setting and hand finishing instead of the metal.
Looking for something singular - a jewel to match a custom outfit? The atelier sources and styles on request.
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