Mixing Metals

[Schiehallion]

My opinion: Mixing metals is ok when they are highlights, one on the other of a single item. eg Gold on silver ..to accentuate the design....

But for me, no way would I mix different metals on different accessories. It's a question of being stylish. So I have pewter with pewter: Silver with silver. I also would never use chrome with silver or pewter. Even though they are both 'white metals' the colour is so very different! I don't as yet have any brass or gilt but for the same reason I would not put together different 'yellow metals'

Likewise brown sporran with brown belt and shoes. Black with black etc.

[OC Richard]

OK here's a photo of the Pipe Major of the Black Watch showing the gilt sporran cantle, sgian, and dirk, and gold lace, insignia, and buttons on his doublet, but silver waistbelt and crossbelt hardware and plaid brooch.
Note that his pipes are silver mounted but his bagcover has gold fringe.
Seems that in the military the idea of matching metals doesn't exist, at least in the dress of pipers.