Lately I've heard some radio ads from Steven Singer Jewelers in
Philadelphia promoting "Super Silver", made from Argentium. Instead
of tarnishing, it gets "whiter and brighter" Huh? Argentium may be
great stuff, but is this an accurate description? I think buyers
might be doomed to disappointment. Beware of over-hyping even
something good!
Oh dear, I agree with your concern, Allan. No silver can be “tarnish
proof”. Argentium Silver is highly tarnish resistant, and with
appropriate preparation, it is extremely tarnish resistant. Since I
have been working primarily with Argentium Sterling since the turn of
the century (2000) I have had 12 years to be delighted at how little
polishing I have had to do in the past 10 or so years.
The germanium in Argentium Silver continuously grabs oxygen,
creating germanium oxide, which protects the surface from tarnish.
Color tests have shown Argentium Sterling to be whiter than other
metals. It sounds like someone has combined and twisted information
for the sake of advertising— It is unfortunate, since, as you say,
it is likely in the end to have the opposite of the desired effect.
Is anybody on Orchid in a position to contact these jewelers about
this? The simple truth about Argentium Silver is more than good
enough!
Oh dear, I agree with your concern, Allan. No silver can be
"tarnish proof".
That’s true. I regularly make jewelry with .9999 silver and it
tarnishes, as do the ingots I melt to make sheet and wire.
Silver is supposed to gain a patina. That’s its beauty. Rio and
Stuller sell these little pieces of yellow cloth impregnated with
some magic chemicals that you can get your logo printed on and give
it to your customers. It allows your customers to shine up their
silver (etc.) jewelry without removing the beloved patina.
This always happens over the years, and it usually takes some years
for the connect to get it disconnected. My suggestion to hasten the
process is to contact the jewelers vigilance committee and ask them
to check it out.