Soldering pink or rose gold to argentium

Jewelry Discussion
1

Hello Everyone,

I’m wondering if I can solder rose/pink gold to Argentium. From what
I can tell, pink easy solder needs a very high temp in order to flow
and will melt the Argentium. Will Argentium solder bond with rose
gold metal?

If not, then it appears that there is no way to use rose/pink gold
with Argentium unless it is a cold connection, is this a correct
assumption?

Thank you,
Vicki S.

2 
I'm wondering if I can solder rose/pink gold to Argentium. From
what I can tell, pink easy solder needs a very high temp in order
to flow and will melt the Argentium. Will Argentium solder bond
with rose gold metal?

Hi Vicki, Argentium Silver solders will certainly work to bond any
color gold to Argentium Silver. You were right to check the flow
temperature of the pink gold solder. If it is higher than that of the
AS solders, I would definitely suggest using AS solder. (It will be
less expensive, too!)

Cynthia Eid

3

Hi Vicki,

I'm wondering if I can solder rose/pink gold to Argentium. From
what I can tell, pink easy solder needs a very high temp in order
to flow and will melt the Argentium. Will Argentium solder bond
with rose gold metal?

Argentium Silver solders will certainly work to bond any color gold
to Argentium Silver. You were right to check the flow temperature of
the pink gold solder. If it is higher than that of the AS solders, I
would definitely suggest using AS solder. (It will be less
expensive, too!)

Cynthia Eid

4 
I'm wondering if I can solder rose/pink gold to Argentium.

I’ll tell you something I have learned quite uncomfortably since I
began my new job with James Binnion a few weeks ago.

If you overheat rose/red/pink gold in close contact with silver, you
will create a yellow gold alloy at the interface. Red/pink/rose gold
is gold and copper; gold, plus copper, plus silver= yellow gold.

I can imagine situations in which this might be quite attractive,
but if it is not the look you want, be very careful how much heat you
apply! Believe me, overheating is amazingly easy.

I have had success in my own work using gold/silver bimetal to
applique’ gold onto silver-- you are soldering silver to silver,
which I find much easier. I don’t know whether you can buy bimetal
with colored gold, however-- I was using 22k yellow. The bimetal is
rich enough in color to create a good contrast, and the bimetal is
much less expensive (and easier to use) than solid gold.

Good luck!
Noel