nick·el sil·ver | ˈni-kəl sil-vər
noun
A white metal mixture of copper, zinc, and nickel which contains no silver
Nickel silver is an alloy of copper that contains nickel and zinc. The typical breakdown of nickel silver is 60% copper, 20% nickel, and 20% zinc, with no actual silver in the alloy. The name is derived purely from the appearance of nickel silver, which is shiny and similar to silver in its final color. Other names for nickel silver include maillechort, nickel-brass, new silver, and German silver. Nickel silver was first developed in the Qing Dynasty in China and was imported to the west where it was often used to imitate or replace sterling silver. It is used in silverware, small parts of clothing, musical instruments, and small models because of its relatively low cost and bright silver coloring.
