which white metal do you prefer for formal wear?

[FossilHunter]

I see that pewter and chrome are both pretty well represented among formal accessories (sporran cantles, buckles, etc.).

So I'm interested in what metals people prefer when it comes to formal dress? What are your reasons?

I see an argument for chrome where it is a bit showier to go with fancy clothes but the warmer look of pewter might come off as a little more subdued and elegant.

If there was a particular buckle or cantle design that you liked, would you go with it regardless of the metal finish or would it be a deal breaker for you?

I look forward to seeing what folks have to say on this.

[Jock Scot]

I know this is might not be well received, but neither of your choices look the business. One looks brash and one looks dull even when polished. "Mutton dressed up as lamb", as we say here. Silver(NOT silver plate) is the way to go, yes I know its expensive, but take your time and save up, you won't regret it.

[McMurdo]

I have to agree with Jock, though I will admit that when I starting in all of this silver was out of my reach, so I bought a sporran with a chrome cantle, as most everyone over here has a similar sporran I've never heard a bad word regarding my kit. I went out and found a silver kilt pin from the Victorian era for a very good price from ebay and look there often for such things. I recently also purchased a pair of silver shoe buckles for my buckle brogues. This has taken a decade, so take your time and buy the best you can afford.

[Tarheel]

I believe that most folks don't attend enough "truly formal" events in a year. Therefore, they choose accessories that fit their personalities and the crowd they mingle among. Utility and durability seem to become the issue of debate between chrome or pewter if a piece is worn often.

I choose silver over chrome and pewter. I like polishing that produces a gleam and eye catching piece that I am proud of.

[figheadair]

I wear a brass cantle sporran for day wear. For formal wear I prefer my family mid-18th century bronze cantle with its original bag. What's not to like.

[OC Richard]

Since this is the "traditional" forum, I'll mention that vintage sporran cantles, buckles, dirk mountings, etc are nearly always found in three metals (say from around the mid 19th century up until the third quarter of the 20th century)

1) solid sterling silver (the least common I've seen)

2) solid German silver (the most common I've seen)

2) solid German silver, silver plated

All of these look very similar. German Silver is to me preferable to chrome plating or nickel plating.

By the 1960s or so you start seeing hardware cast in brass and chrome plated or nickel plated. More recently, who knows? Some stuff looks like pot metal.

Also the form of construction changed. In the 19th century one usually sees sporran cantles etc fabricated out of sheet metal, then engraved



Then, what, in the early 20th century it became more popular to cast the metal work.

On the upper left is a cantle cast of solid German Silver, not plated. On the upper right is a cantle fabricated from sheet German Silver, not plated.

[Panache]

The buttons on my doublet are a bright silver color so I either wear a sporran whose metal cantle matches them




or

I wear a sporran without any metal at all




(If you look closely at the second photo long enough you will spot me, eventually. I sort of fade into the background but trust me I'm next to the gorgeous mermaid)


Cheers

Jamie

[Jock Scot]

I can clearly see you in the first picture Jamie, but try as I might I cannot see you, or the sporran in the second picture!

[Tobus]

I see an argument for chrome where it is a bit showier to go with fancy clothes but the warmer look of pewter might come off as a little more subdued and elegant.

If these were the only choices I could afford, I'd have to go with "neither", and use a sporran with no cantle.

Chrome plating can sure look sparkly and bright, but it also looks cheap. Sorry to say that, but it does. And pewter, to me, looks a little too "dark" for a formal cantle. As Jock says, a sterling silver cantle would be best. But who can afford that? Or even find one? I would think that silver plating is just fine, and virtually no one will know the difference. But silver just has a more honest look to it than other types of platings.

I don't personally have any reason to own a truly formal sporran, but if I were trying to put something together, I would just find a sporran with a metal cantle design that I liked, and then take it apart, send the cantle off to be silver plated, and put it back on. You'd need to check with someone in your area who can do silver plating (usually a company that repairs/restores silverware and serviceware), but the cost to plate a cantle shouldn't be more than about $100.

[FossilHunter]

If these were the only choices I could afford, I'd have to go with "neither", and use a sporran with no cantle.

Chrome plating can sure look sparkly and bright, but it also looks cheap. Sorry to say that, but it does. And pewter, to me, looks a little too "dark" for a formal cantle. As Jock says, a sterling silver cantle would be best. But who can afford that? Or even find one? I would think that silver plating is just fine, and virtually no one will know the difference. But silver just has a more honest look to it than other types of platings.

I don't personally have any reason to own a truly formal sporran, but if I were trying to put something together, I would just find a sporran with a metal cantle design that I liked, and then take it apart, send the cantle off to be silver plated, and put it back on. You'd need to check with someone in your area who can do silver plating (usually a company that repairs/restores silverware and serviceware), but the cost to plate a cantle shouldn't be more than about $100.

I think plating might be the ticket. That and possibly a full mask sporran with no cantle.

Frankly, the prices I see for sterling cantled sporrans are somewhat obscene considering I may wear the sporran 2-5 times a year. Barring a miraculous rise to a clan chiefdom and needing to entertain The Queen, I can't see ever spending £1600 (I did see some plain "budget" silver sporrans for £900) on an accessory.

Not that I don't appreciate everyone's opinion. I have no doubt that sterling is a superior material. I have studs and cufflinks in sterling and will eventually get a kilt pin too. Maybe a cantle is just too specialized of a product for competitive pricing.