Allergy to Argentium Sterling

Jewelry Discussion
1

i have been experimenting with argentium. My ears are sensitive to
metals. After wearing some posts make of argentium they felt a bit
itchy. Has there been any reports of people being allergic or
reacting unfavorably to argentium? I cannot wear base metals but
have no problem with the precious metals.

Thanks,
Megin

2

Megin

It sounds like you are sensitive to something. Do you react the same
with regular Sterling studs? It may be the copper or combination of
copper and germanium.

Ironically the germanium that is in Argentium Sterling is an element
in the water of Lourdes. Some think it might be some of why this
water is very healing.

Karen Bahr - Karen’s Artworx
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

3 
i have been experimenting with argentium. My ears are sensitive to
metals. After wearing some posts make of argentium they felt a bit
itchy. Has there been any reports of people being allergic or
reacting unfavorably to argentium? I cannot wear base metals but
have no problem with the precious metals.

On the contrary, many people have reported that they’ve found
Argentium Silver (AS) to be largely non-reactive. For instance I’ve
got customers who have had me replace all of their sterling posts and
earwires with AS for that very reason: regular sterling gives them
trouble but AS does not.

On the other hand I can imagine that high karat golds and platinums
might be less reactive still.

Just a guess, but could it be your finishing process? Cleaners,
polishes, etc might cause reactions.

Cheers,
Trevor F.
in The City of Light
Visit TouchMetal.com at http://www.touchmetal.com

4

Trevor-

I have been changing out posts and wires for people too. Argentium
has not bothered any of my customers. The germanium in it is. I
think. an anti-inflammatory. someone give the answer if I am
incorrect. or.

cheers-
Susan
www.ThorntonStudioJewelry.com

5

Thanks Trevor,

In the handling of the earrings by a number of people, there may
have been something deposited by a hand. I’ll put them on again today
and see what happens.

Megin

6

Thanks Karen,

Traditional sterling does not bother me in the least. Base metals on
my skin create an instant rash. I will look into germanium to see if
that is my personal culprit.

Megin

7

Hi,

Marty Andersen has done some experimenting with AS and people with
allergies, with very positive results. You can read about it on his
blog at

Can you normally wear traditional sterling silver? Are the earrings
Argentium Silver as well? Or is the body of the earring another
metal? If there is any other metal against your ear other than
Argentium Silver, that needs to be considered.

Did you heat and pickle the posts, to remove any copper?

It will be interesting to see if we can resolve this problem for
you.

Cynthia Eid

8

My first question would be what solder did you use to attach the
posts? Or, you may be reacting to the germanium (sp?) alloy.

I find that a number of people have reactions to soldered posts.
Therefore we use a Sparkie to attach posts. There’s no heat or flame
involved. Also, no reaction to solder impurities either.

Ruthie Cohen

9

Megin,

Platinum is the only metal which people cannot physically be
allergic to.

All other “PRECIOUS” metals people may have reactions to. I spoke
with an allergist about this very problem.

As a solution, call your metal refinery and get the details of what
is in the alloy. Look up “allergist” in your yellow pages, or get a
referral from your doctor to get scratch tests. This is the only way
to truely find your allergies.

Good Luck,
Kennon

10

And it could just be that you are allergic to this alloy. Even if
something is “hypoallergenic” it means that is causes an allergic
reaction in a very small number of people. You could be one of the
few who are allergic.

Michelle

11

Hi Cynthia,

Thank you for all the I’m hoping it was a bit of a
fluke. I can’t wear any base metals, but sterling, golds, and
platinum have been fine for years. (Buying glasses frames in the
past was an incredible search since most frame were using base
metals, somewhere it would hit my face. Fortunately, with the
plastic, titanium and stainless frames out now, I have many more
options.) Working with Argentium is new for me and I am loving it.
Those earrings are made of argentium, including the solder. The posts
are traditional sterling, which has never been a problem. I have
thoroughly cleaned the earrings and will try them again. I’m assuming
there was some contaminant introduced after creation. I’ll write
again if this does not solve it.

Megin