What is the difference between sterling silver, silver-plated and pewter picture frames?
Sterling silver is .925 silver (92.5% silver, 7.5% copper) and usually hallmarked; sterling overlay is a layer of sterling over the frame; silver-plated is silver over a base metal, at a gentler price; pewter is a different metal with a softer, warmer gray tone.
- Choose a Cunill non-tarnish sterling frame if you want true .925 silver that is hallmarked and lacquer-treated, so it never needs polishing.
- Choose a Christofle silver-plated frame if you want the look of silver at a gentler price – it has no protective varnish, so care for it as you would silver.
- Choose a Match Pewter frame if you prefer a softer, warmer gray that develops a patina with use.
- Choose a 5x7 if it is a wedding or graduation photo, or an 8x10 if it is a formal portrait.
A silver picture frame is one of the few gifts that suits almost every occasion – a wedding, a new baby, a graduation, a 25th anniversary. But "silver" can mean several different things, and the difference matters for both price and care. Here is how to tell sterling from silver plate, and our favorite silver picture frames in every size.
Sterling, Silver-Plated, Pewter: What's the Difference?
- Sterling silver is .925 silver – 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper – and is usually hallmarked.
- Sterling silver overlay is a layer of .925 sterling silver over the frame.
- Silver-plated means a layer of silver over a base metal. It gives the look of silver at a gentler price.
- Pewter is a different metal altogether, with a softer, warmer gray tone.
- Silver-colored finishes – such as Michael Aram's Silver and Nickel finishes on handcrafted metal, or Christofle's stainless steel frames – have a silver look but are not silver.
Every frame below is labeled with its material exactly as it is described on its own page. Browse all picture frames.
Sterling Silver Picture Frames
For a true sterling silver frame, look to Cunill, Barcelona silversmiths since 1916. Their sterling frames are made of .925 sterling silver, carry a hallmark, and are treated with a tarnish-resistant lacquer. See all Cunill picture frames.
Silver-Plated Picture Frames
Christofle, the French silversmith founded in Paris in 1830, makes silver-plated frames in designs such as Fidelio, Jardin d'Eden and Uni. Christofle notes that its frames have no protective varnish, so care for them as you would silver (see below). Browse Christofle picture frames.
Cunill also makes silver-plated frames, handcrafted in Europe and presented in the Cunill gift box:
Silver-Finish and Nickel Frames by Michael Aram
Michael Aram frames are handcrafted metal, made in the Michael Aram workshops, where each design begins as a hand-forged original. They are not sterling or silver plate; "Silver" and "Nickel" are the names of their finishes. Browse Michael Aram picture frames.
Pewter Picture Frames
Match Pewter frames are cast and finished by hand in northern Italy by artisan families, and the pewter develops a soft, warm patina with use. Learn more on our Match Pewter: handmade in Italy page, or browse Match Pewter picture frames.
A Silver Look in Stainless Steel
Christofle also makes frames in stainless steel – they are not silver, but they have a bright, silvery look.
Want Sparkle Instead of Silver?
Jay Strongwater frames are hand-enameled metal set with crystals – not silver, but jeweled. Read our guide to Jay Strongwater or browse Jay Strongwater picture frames.
Choosing the Right Frame
- 4x6 – the standard print size; right for a desk, a nightstand or a shelf.
- 5x7 – a classic gift size, and a good choice for a wedding or graduation photo.
- 8x10 – for formal portraits and the photo that deserves the spotlight.
- 25th anniversary: silver is the traditional 25th anniversary gift – the Cunill Sterling Silver 25th Anniversary 8x10 Frame was made for it. More ideas in anniversary gifts by year.
- New baby: Cunill baby gifts include sterling silver baby frames. See our new baby gift guide.
Caring for a Silver Frame
- Cunill's non-tarnish sterling frames are lacquer-treated, so they don't need polishing.
- Christofle frames have no protective varnish: maintain them with a silver care product, avoiding the wooden parts.
- Pewter develops a soft patina with use – see our Match Pewter care page.
- For everything else about silver, read how to care for your silver.
Paris Tableware & Gifts, a store in Ridgewood, New Jersey, ships picture frames across the continental US, with free shipping on orders over $150.
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Save your favorites: open any piece and tap the ♡ to add it to your Wishlist, then send the list to whoever is shopping for the next wedding or birthday.
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