Sterling silver has been around for hundreds of years, but argentium silver is a new alloy that provides a tarnish resistant, brighter alternative.
Sterling Silver
The first evidence of silver mining and production dates to 3000 B.C. in Turkey and Greece. Silver jewelry has been found during a number of archeological excavations in the ancient sarcophagi and tombs of royalty, along with gold and gemstones.
Pure silver (99.9%) is too soft for making jewelry and functional items, so an alloy of silver was made and is known as Sterling Silver.
Sterling Silver is a compound made up of 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent copper (with other metals like tin, zinc, and nickel). This standard dates back to the 13th century when King Edward I of England declared that all silver items were to be 925 parts pure silver. Trademark stamps were and still are required to mark whether an item has the Sterling Silver 925 standard.
Sterling Silver is malleable and much more affordable than gold and is a favorite metal amongst jewelers. It solders easily, and casts beautifully. While Sterling Silver has a bright white color, it does tend to tarnish because of the copper content. As many of us know, wearing any Sterling Silver piece or long exposure to open air will turn it jet black over time. Many hate this natural patina and have to constantly polish their piece after each use. However, modern trends in jewelry show that many love this natural patina that occurs and usually leave it, or intentionally patina the piece.
Argentium
Argentium Silver is a brand new silver alloy that is brighter, more white, hypoallergenic, and tarnish resistant than Sterling Silver. This alloy contains less copper and no nickel, tin, or zinc. It’s also the most sustainable silver since it only uses recycled silver.
Argentium Silver was invented by Master Silversmith, Peter Johns at Middlesex University, London. His initial research concentrated on eliminating firestain (when copper comes to the surface of the alloy during heating and soldering processes) in traditional Sterling silver, using the element Germanium. Germanium was also found to add further benefits, including tarnish resistance and heat-hardening properties.
Germanium is a lustrous, hard-brittle, grayish-white metalloid in the carbon group, chemically similar to its group neighbors silicon and tin. Pure germanium is a semiconductor with an appearance similar to elemental silicon. This element coupled with pure silver is what gives Argentium Silver its bright, white glow.
Argentium Silver comes in two grades, 935 (93.5% silver) and 960 (96.0% silver), which is higher than Sterling which is 925 (92.5% silver). Germanium is strong, but malleable enough to allow more silver content in the alloy to achieve that bright white color we love so much about silver. This also means that Argentium Silver does not need to be polished, even when worn, since it doesn’t tarnish. As we all know, even if you leave a Sterling Silver piece out in the open air and don’t touch it, it will turn black over time because of the copper content in the alloy. Argenitum Silver however, remains bright and polished and therefore requires less care. Something to keep in mind however, there is still a small amount of copper in the alloy so discoloration can occur if you jump into a pool or come in contact with harsh chemicals. But don’t fret, this discoloration is only on the surface and is easy to polish off.
Whether you love the tried and true Sterling or want to try something new with Argentium Silver, it’s important to know which silver is best for your your lifestyle and needs!
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