Can silvertone be engraved and how long does it last?

I am certainly no expert, but silvertone is some sort of silver colored metal that is put over some other metal. I also know it is possible to engrave any sort of metal, but I think it’s a crapshoot whether your coating will flake (probably not if it’s engraved rather than stamped), or whether it will show an undesirable color through the engraving (such as copper).

Annnd there’s nothing like hitting “answer” and then checking to see if I’m right! I just checked and silvertone is most usually some sort of shiny paint applied over metal or plastic. Here’s the link. http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4922694_how-silvertone-metal-made.html