Is Argentium as popular as sterling?

Jewelry Discussion
1

Hello all, i have noticed several discussions on Argentuim
silver…which I know nothing about. i have always used ss, but it
sounds like argentium may be better for keeping a non-oxidized look.
From what i understand the peice stays “fresh”…is this correct?
Is Argentium as popular as sterling? Should I switch over? i
guess I am asking what the benefits are.

Thanks!
Laura Jackson
Laura J. Designs

2

For me, the benefits include longer workability between annealings
(especially since I currently have no way at all to anneal), no
firestain, and no tarnish. I especially like the fact that I can use
Argentium to string pearls and other delicate materials because the
non-tarnishing nature means there are no future worries about how to
clean blackened silver without damaging the pearls.

Of course I sold an awful lot of stuff BEFORE I realized I should
anneal the Argentium to ensure that the non-tarnish characteristic
has a chance to kick in. I sure hope none of that comes back to bite
me. I’m currently wearing an Argentium bracelet that is rapidly
turning black. It needs to be annealed before I can finish it off
anyway. I’ll let you all know how that turns out.

Sojourner

3

Argentium Sterling Silver is the brand name for a new sterling
silver alloy. Read more about it here: www.argentiumsilver.com

MonaLS

4 
i guess I am asking what the benefits are.

Hello Laura,

I’ll let others speak about the popularity of Argentium Sterling
(AS). I will say though that it’s very popular in and around my
workshop.

ArgentiumSilver.com is the “parent” site for Argentium Sterling (AS)
and if you check out http://www.argentiumsilver.com/text.htm you’ll
find a good summary of the benefits of AS, namely:

"* Firescale-free alloy.

  • Highly tarnish-resistant.

  • Lower heat and electrical conductivity, enabling the alloy to be
    resistance, plasma and laser welded.

  • Annealed hardness is equal to standard sterling silver. Further
    hardening can be achieved by simple heat treatment (even after
    soldering).

  • Increased ductility, to assist forming processes including spinning
    and stamping.

  • Environmental advantages of a firescale-free alloy =96 cyanide and
    other hazardous chemicals used for stripping or plating over
    firescale, are eliminated.

  • Production/finishing time is reduced.

While it may not be obvious from the summary the firestain-free and
increased ductility properties can mean a big difference, depending
on the kind of work you do.

I do a lot of rolling to make my own stock, also forging, raising and
lately chain making. Since you don’t have to worry about firestain
you don’t have to firecoat before you anneal, which one does a lot in
this type of work. And because of the increased ductility you can do
more work between annealings.

Together these really add up to make the work less hassle and much
enjoyable.

And the tarnish-resistance is invaluable IMHO. For instance I’ve got
a spoon I made about 6 months ago and even though I use it every day
for all types of food there isn’t a speck of tarnish on it. It really
works!

Time to toot my own kazoo a little: check out my “Working With
Argentium Sterling silver” blog if you’re interested in reading more
about the day-to-day of working with AS. The blog is at

Cheers,
Trevor F.
in The City of Light