Argentium Silver has different working properties compared to standard sterling silver. What makes it different is that a small amount of germanium replaces some of the copper in .925 silver. It still tarnishes, but much more slowly than regular sterling silver. The tarnish is a soft yellowish color—not black—and it's easily removed.
When heated, regular sterling silver forms cuprous oxide, known as firescale or firestain—that annoying purplish layer that lurks under the surface of regular sterling silver after annealing or soldering. Firescale has to be removed by using abrasives or chemicals.
Though Argentium Silver may oxidize when heated, the oxide is cupric oxide, which can be easily removed. The addition of germanium to the sterling silver alloy stops the penetration of oxygen past the surface. Silver and Gold can be combined in the same piece of jewelry without a chemical reaction that would normally dull both metals.
And it's every bit as gorgeous as standard sterling silver:
Apatite and Argentium Silver Earrings
Argentium Silver Chainmaille Bracelet
Argentium Silver Tips
I really didn't start this post to tell you how to use your kitchen appliances in your jewelry business, but that's the way it turned out. Read on, please.
Cleaning Argentium Silver Jewelry
Terri at Therese Custom Designs has come up with a new and unique of cleaning jewelry made with Argentium Silver at home.
She throws them in the dishwasher!
Yes, you read that right. She put Argentium Silver jewelry in the basket in an empty dishwasher, and ran it through a standard cycle with a gel pack by Electrasol, including the drying cycle. And it came out fine!
You might want to test your dishwasher with something small at first, but what a timesaver that would be if it works.
Hardening Argentium Silver Jewelry in a Kitchen Oven
These tips come from Cynthia Eid:
- Though the oven does not need to be spotless, it should be pretty clean. If there are food drippings on the bottom of the oven, the smoke from that food can discolor the metal.
- Avoid discoloration or contamination by placing the Argentium Sterling on a clean soldering pad or a clean Pyrex dish. It is not recommended to use a metal rack or a metal pan.
- Heat Argentium Sterling Silver at 580 degrees F for 45 minutes to 2 hours, and then air-cool. It won't lose its hardness if left in the oven longer. Should the need arise, the alloy can be softened by conventional annealing and then hardened again.
- If the Argentium Sterling Silver gets discolored from being hardened in the oven, pickle will usually clean it. Then, if necessary, use a Goddard's Long Term Silver Polish Cloth (or the liquid version) or a brass brush lubricated with soapy water to refresh the shine.
