Once again, the discussion of what is STERLING SILVER has appeared in
one of the metal clay groups. Several writers there insist that
Sterling Silver is 92.5 Fine Silver and the rest can be any other
metal. One person posted a law that states the above.
So, my question is: Does the above definition apply to Hollow Ware
rather than Jewelry grade Sterling Silver? I seem to remember reading
a long discussion regarding this issue.
I know that in Europe the use of Nickle is not allowed in Sterling.
But what about in the USA? Some manufacturers insist that their
product is “nickle compliant.” What about sheet and wire products;
are they also “nickle compliant?”
Along with that, let me also ask: Is Argentinium Silver called
Sterling Silver? When selling items made Argentinium, can they be
stamped .925? or Sterling? If not, how would one mark items made
from the non-tarnishing alloy?
I don’t think it is true to state that the use of nickel is not
allowed in European sterling (or other metals). As I understand the
EC directive the use of nickel is broadly limited to 0.05% in
jewellery alloys. (It’s actually more complicated than that as the
directive talks about release rates when in contact with skin and
wounds.
I don’t think the UK assay offices test for nickel, so I am not sure
who polices the directive. Moreover, I think it is true to say that
as long as an alloy contains at least 92.5% fine silver it can be
hallmarked as sterling.
Argentium meets the 92.5% requirement and so can be hallmarked as
925.
... Several writers there insist that Sterling Silver is 92.5 Fine
Silver and the rest can be any other metal.
They are correct. At least, in the U.S. Not sure of some other
countries define it differently.
So, my question is: Does the above definition apply to Hollow Ware
rather than Jewelry grade Sterling Silver?
The definition applies to the type of metal. Whether you make hollow
ware, jewelry, or automobile bumpers out of it has no bearing on the
issue.
I know that in Europe the use of Nickel is not allowed in
Sterling. But what about in the USA? Some manufacturers insist that
their product is "nickel compliant." What about sheet and wire
products; are they also "nickel compliant?"
See above. The form of the metal is not an issue. With Nickel, the
issue is that no jewelry metal is allowed nickel content if the item
made from it will contact skin and can leach nickel. In practice,
this means that jewelry simply is not made with metals containing
nickel, even though this total avoidance is a bit of an over reaction
in many cases. But, you could still, if you wish to mix 92.5 percent
silver with 7.5 percent nickel, and call the result sterling silver.
You might not like the alloy much, but it would meet the definition
of sterling in the U.S.
By law in the US sterling must contain.925 or greater silver
content. The remainder can be anything.There is no distinction
between jewelry and silverware or hollow ware in the US either. There
are no laws in the US regarding nickel content so it could
conceivably be in some sterling silver products. However nickel and
silver don’t play nice together, they are totally insouable in each
other so the resulting mixtures (not alloys because there is no
solubility) are not very mechanically sound if there is much nickel
present but tiny amounts might make for a harder mixture. I don’t
know if any commercial sterling has any nickel in it but I doubt it.
EU nickel laws dont directly prohibit nickel they regulate the amount
of nickel released by the article. A subtle but significant
difference. There is loads of info about this but in brief as long as
the nickel remains bound in the alloy and is not able to be dissolved
out of the alloy by the artificial sweat used in the EU tests an
article can contain nickel. Saying your product is nickel compliant
means it has passed a nickel release test that meets the EU
specifications.
Argentinium Silver is sterling in that it is greater than .925
silver content.
Jim
James Binnion @James_Binnion
James Binnion Metal Arts
I don't think the UK assay offices test for nickel, so I am not
sure who polices the directive.
The Sheffield Assay Office does do testing for nickel and has also
been doing pioneering testing work for the EEC watch trade where the
same regulations govern how much nickel can be released into the skin
from watch case backs. I did a couple of workshops for the staff
there on how to correctly and safely dismantle and reassemble the
various parts and types of watch case and straps to allow for this
testing. While the old methods of cupellation are still used for
assay of precious metals, great use is now also made of modern
techniques like X-ray spectroscopy which give a quick and complete
analysis of metal content.