Working with Electrum Alloy

Jewelry Discussion
1

Has anyone worked with electrum? I have seen refrence to 75% gold /
25% silver and to 50% gold / 50% silver.

I am thinking of using it to make wedding bands. I am looking for
info on it’s working properties. The books I checked just said it
isn’t used much for jewelry. Why? Is it too soft?

Thanks.
Lorraine Johnson

2 
Has anyone worked with electrum? I have seen refrence to 75% gold
/ 25% silver and to 50% gold / 50% silver.

I have heard of a half and half alloy of gold and silver being
called electrum. AFAIK, an alloy of 75% gold to 25% silver would be
18 Karat green gold.

I have worked with 18K green, but not with the 50/50 alloy.

Lee Einer
Dos Manos Jewelry
http://www.dosmanosjewelry.com

3

I love working with electrum. It is strong and malleable, you can
granulate with 22k yellow gold on it and it looks wonderful.

The last time I brought up the use of electrum on Orchid I got
hammered, buy others because they felt you can’t stamp it as gold
and that isn’t profitable. I disagree, but I am not going to argue.
I love it.

Jennifer Friedman
enamelist, jewelry artisan, ceremonial silver

4

Lorraine,

We use it occasionally, in a 50/50 ratio. Has a creamy white color,
and works well for granulation. Use it just like sterling. It is
soft. Too soft for most wedding rings. You could treat it as an inlay
material, or cast it in place into a harder alloy. This would also
show the color better by providing a contrast.

Doug

Douglas Zaruba
33 N. Market St.
Frederick, MD 21701
301 695-1107
@Douglas_Zaruba

5 
The last time I brought up the use of electrum on Orchid I got
hammered, buy others because they felt you can't stamp it as gold

This is odd. As far as I know, electrum would be 12K and you can
sell gold alloys 10K and above in the US as gold.

Lee Einer
Dos Manos Jewelry
http://www.dosmanosjewelry.com

6 
The last time I brought up the use of electrum on Orchid I got
hammered, buy others because they felt you can't stamp it as gold
and that isn't profitable. I disagree, but I am not going to argue. 
I love it.

You could stamp it as 10k or 9k if these were legal standards in
your country.

Bill Bedford

7

Lorraine,

The alloys that you are describing are 18k and 12k green gold. They
will have a greenish cast and will be very soft and malleable. You
will have to begin with accordingly heavier material.

Andy Cooperman

8

I have made it, and used it over the years. I simply use a 12K stamp
for the 50% alloy - they were available back when I was a puppy…
Nowadays you might have to have one made? It is a legal karat in
the U.S.

Brian P. Marshall
Stockton Jewelry Arts School
Stockton, CA USA
209-477-0550
instructor@jewelryartschool.com
jewelryartschool@aol.com

9

Thank you for answering Jennifer. Right now I am not concerned about
selling. I am making wedding rings for my son and daughter in law.
they will be married in Istanbul, where she is from. I am playing
with designs using electrum and 22k. I will alloy the electrum myself
and buy the 22k. Is making a layered rod practical?

Thanks again,
Lorraine