Argentium

Argentium Sterling Silver - If You Can Find It, Buy It!

If you do wire sculpture or make any type of jewelry using sterling silver, you will be delighted to learn about Argentium Sterling Silver.

This is real sterling silver since it contains a minimum of 92.5% pure silver. Peter Johns of Middlesex University invented Argentium in 1996. The University owns the patent and licenses its production worldwide.

Argentium has several advantages over traditional sterling silver; however its most notable one is its resistance to tarnish. An occasional (like once a year!) rinse and wipe with a soft cotton cloth is all that's needed to keep it gleaming. It never needs polishing.

Consider that as a selling point for your sterling silver jewelry!

The element that keeps Argentium from tarnishing is germanium. Germanium is a crystalline semi-metallic element which is found naturally in small amounts in silver, copper and zinc ores, as well as in the mineral, germanite. The germanium forms an invisible film on the surface of silver alloy. This film prevents oxygen from reaching any tarnishable metals, such as copper, employed to harden the pure silver.

As for working with Argentium Sterling, artisans who forge and weld sterling need to be aware of certain differences between Argentium and traditional sterling silver (e.g. lower melting point), but those who merely incorporate Argentium findings or wire into their jewelry will not find it any different to work with.

Just don't polish it. If you feel you must, be sure to use a cloth that has not been contaminated by polishing other metals.

Using a contaminated cloth could deposit tarnish-able material on the surface and destroy the main advantage of Argentium Sterling Silver.

I found an extensive selection of Argentium Sterling at Rings n' Things. They have findings, as well as wire. The best news is that the prices are very close to those for traditional sterling.

Comments from Crafters Who Have Used Argentium

"Argentium doesn't feel exactly the same as regular sterling. I would say it is a bit stiffer. So if you do wire sculpting, I recommend you try dead soft Argentium. The rest of your blog was right on point - Argentium is a very exciting new material for silver jewelers."

Jennifer from Maine

"I live in England so have had access to Argentium for several years. I have noticed that the resistance to tarnish actually increases over time. A chemist friend theorizes that the germanium continues to migrate to the surface, refreshing the protective coat. All I know is that my customers love it.

One came into my shoppe wearing a piece she bought four years ago. She swears she hasn't polished it; yet it looks like it was bought just yesterday. It seems to me that Argentium is also more resistant to dents and scratches."

Gretchen from Milford, Surrey

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