10x5mm Silverplated CCB Metallised Acrylic Tube Bead

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THE ORIGINAL CCB COATED BEADS,  

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Acrylic Coated with Paktong Silver/Cupronickel (also called Nickel Silver, German Silver, White Copper, Nickel Silver) 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, Cupronickel 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 Cupronickel 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 cited partially from Wiki & other sources and some from my Chinese Supplier]

In beading products  PAKTONG SILVER IS USED ON CCB (COPPER/CUPRONICKEL-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".