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This information courtesy of Science info.

Types of Pewters

• Britannia: Britannia, also known as Britannium, is composed of approximately 91-93% tin, with copper and antimony added for hardness. It is used in spin-cast molds, which involve pouring liquid pewter into a mold that spins on its axis. Britannia is frequently used in costume jewelry where greatest detail and robustness are sought, and it can also be found in statuettes, most notably Oscar award statues. Britannia is deemed lead-free.
• Gravity Cast Lead-free Pewter: Gravity cast lead-free pewter is around 91 to 93% tin, with antimony and a large amount of copper added. This style makes use of open-faced molds, as well as cast iron and sand molds, which are preheated and coated in a refractory substance to avoid sticking. Molten pewter is poured into the mold and allowed to harden before being removed. Jewelry making and game design are two examples of applications.
• Tin Pewter: Tin pewter is a low-cost metal used in a variety of decorative purposes, including miniatures and models. Higher tin content results in a lower melting point and increased weight. Special tin pewter containing 92% tin has better castability than lead-free Britannia and is suited for repeated mold use, resulting in longer mold life than other metal alloys.
• Lead-free pewter with bismuth.: Bismuth has been used in pewter since the 1980s as a valued replacement for lead, resulting in a less hazardous metal. This sort of pewter is particularly desirable in the molding process because it resists shrinkage and remains pliable. It is utilized in a variety of applications, including jewelry, award medals, decorations, and novelty products.
• Traditional pewter: Traditional pewter has more lead than modern equivalents, which are often made up of 85-99% tin with a combination of copper and lead. It has been used for dinnerware, tankards, candlesticks, oil lamps, and jewelry from ancient Egyptian and Roman times. To ensure safety, new pewter alternatives now contain antimony.
• Modern pewter: Modern pewter is normally composed of at least 90% tin, 0.58% antimony, and up to 2.3% copper, making it lead-free and nontoxic. Due to its low strength in comparison to other metals, it is widely employed in jewelry and other non-structural applications.
• Antique Pewter: Antique pewter refers to collectible things from the past and is essentially the same alloy as modern pewter. The fundamental difference is the oxide coating that accumulates on ancient pewter over time, resulting in a drab gray or black surface as opposed to the reflective silver sheen of modern pewter.
• 25% Tin Pewter Alloy: This is the cheapest pewter on the market, made up of 25% tin, 74% lead, and 2% antimony. It is dense and utilized for products where high weight is not an issue, such as candle holders, but is not commonly used for jewelry due to its weight.
• 35% Tin Pewter Alloy: This alloy, including 35% tin, 62% lead, and 3% antimony, has a low melting point and strong malleability. It strikes a balance between the lower melting temperature and castability of higher-tin pewters and the lower cost and heavier weight of more leaded types.
• 60% Tin Pewter Alloy: This pewter, made up of 60% tin, 37.5% lead, and 2.5% antimony, has the lowest melting point, which extends mold life and lowers production energy costs. It is widely used as a solder for electrical connections, handles, spouts, and hinges.
• 92% Tin Pewter: This alloy is ideal for casting, much better than Britannia pewter. It is used to make models and miniatures because of its superior flow in the molten stage, which allows for detailed molds.
• Tin Base Level: Alloy 1: This alloy, which contains 90% tin, 2% antimony, 2% cadmium, and 6% lead, is specifically developed for moldings with flat surfaces that require a polished finish.