riverrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2010
Posts: 1,395
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Post by riverrock on Apr 21, 2013 14:27:52 GMT -5
Can someone tell me what's the difference between sterling silver and Argentium silver?
I have been using Argentium because that's what I was given when I started to wrap.
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Apr 21, 2013 14:41:30 GMT -5
Argentium silver is an alloy of silver and copper at 92.5% silver + 7.5%copper that helps prevent tarnishing - it will tarnish to a golden color but not black like pure silver
sterling silver is also alloyed with copper so you should not see too much of a price difference between the two
pure silver referred to as fine silver is 99.9% pure and will be more expensive than either argentium or sterling
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Post by Bikerrandy on Apr 21, 2013 15:34:01 GMT -5
Honestly, I just started using sterling and I'll probably never go back to argentium. The sterling polishes to a high luster with ease where argentium (to me) looks like old aluminum. lol
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Apr 21, 2013 17:19:38 GMT -5
Yeah its just not the same for me either, its ok but I prefer sterling too
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Don
Cave Dweller 
He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
Posts: 2,616
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Post by Don on Apr 21, 2013 17:29:25 GMT -5
pure silver will never tarnish, but is very soft and cannot be work hardened.
Sterling silver is alloyed with copper and zinc for hardness. The copper element is what causes it to tarnish.
Argentium silver has had some of the copper replaced with germanium to reduce/prevent tarnishing but maintaining hardness/workability.
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 22, 2013 9:55:44 GMT -5
Argentium is only tarnish resistant after it reaches a particular temperature. (around 500 degrees, I think) I don't use it anymore because of this- unless I want to fuse something real quick. (easier and quicker than soldering). Plus, like Randy says, I don't think it polishes or looks as nice. I went back to sterling.
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Post by upsided0wnducks on Apr 23, 2013 8:55:14 GMT -5
ARGENTIUM® Sterling Silver is the highest quality of Sterling Silver available today and is highly tarnish resistant. Sterling Silver is 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. Argentium is actually 93.5% or 96.5% silver with the remaining 6.5% or 3.5% a mixture of Copper and the element Germanium which gives it a higher tarnish resistance after heat treating at 500 degrees for 30 minutes. Another plus for Argentium is that less people are allergic to it than normal Sterling Silver because of the lesser copper content. I only use Argentium and absolutely love it. I've given test rings to people allergic to sterling who were so excited when they had no allergic reaction to the Argentium. I love the stuff.  Krista |
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Don
Cave Dweller
He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
Posts: 2,616
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Post by Don on Apr 23, 2013 9:51:51 GMT -5
I found that argentium needs to be buffed up and polished with zam to get a bright, shiny sterling look. otherwise it looks a bit dull straight off of the spool.
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