Silver plated beads and jewelry components are manufactured from high quality copper sheets and are guaranteed nickel free. All designs are created by the Karen Hill Tribe people of Huay Thom Village in Lamphun District of Thailand. With years experience in making silver jewelry components, our Karen friends are currently experimenting with base metal designs. Most designs made in silver can also be created using copper. If you are interested in any hill tribe design not available in silver plating, please let us know-- we will be happy to reproduce those designs for you!