What is the difference between Real Zari, Tested Zari, and Imitation (Plastic) Zari in sarees?

When buying Banarasi, Paithani, Silk, or heavy bridal sarees in Surat, Mumbai, or Ahmedabad, zari type is a major price factor:

• Real Zari: Contains genuine silver and gold; heirloom value, never snags, and darkens naturally over decades (can be polished).
• Tested Zari (Copper Zari): Copper wire base giving authentic metallic weight and warm antique sheen at 1/10th the cost of silver zari.
• Imitation / Badla (Metallic PET): Lightweight, washable, non-tarnishing metallised polyester yarn used in 90% of commercial wholesale sarees under ₹3,000.

Take our Embroidery & Zari Purity Quiz to test your trade knowledge.