Argentium?

[Former_Member]

I've always worked with non-argentium sterling silver, but I've been thinking about using Argentium wire. Can some people give me opinions on argentium? And if I do start using Argentium, should I explain to my customers what it is on my Etsy descriptions?

[JewelryByGaladryl]

I love argentium. You can fuse it like fine silver (which means you don't need any solder), it has a minimum of 93,5% silver, the rest is Germanium and a little Copper. It is highly tarnish resistant and a little more expensive than sterling.

[Former_Member]

Thank you Sylvia. I'll definitely consider buying some!

[AnjasArts]

I use argentium for all my silver! Love love love it! It's so easy to clean! Seriously I had an old coil that I had forgotten about and it was tarnishing, I picked it up and the tarnish instantly came off onto my fingers of course but it took maybe a minute to clean the whole coil. Just a soft cloth works too. Love love love it.

[Former_Member]

I lovvve my Argentium. I think it's worth the extra cost to get a non tarnish silver. It's also just a popular name brand,all the big silver casting brands are making the switch to Argentium. It's similar to having the name brand "Swarovski",it just sounds fancier and alot of customers know the name;-). I find the half hard argentium much less forgiving for oops' ,but once you get the feel of it,you won't really notice anymore.
You could say something like "930 Argentium Silver(non tarnish)" in your description to describe it.

[Former_Member]

I always use argentium as well, i think it's a great selling point for your customers to know they won't have to store it so carefully or polish it all the time. I say that it's argentium in my listings and I've started adding an explanation of what that means at well.

[Former_Member]

I use argentium and love it.I also learned not to mix argentium with other silver it will discolor the argentium for some reason.

[JewelryByGaladryl]

Good to know. Thank you.

[Untwistedsister]

Be very careful with argentium. It tends to react with some face creams and especially sunscreen and turn icky black.

[Former_Member]

So where do y'all buy your Argentium? Any tips?

[JewelryByGaladryl]

Here on etsy :)

[Untwistedsister]

Rio mostly.

[AnjasArts]

I used to purchase off Etsy but now I buy it from Rio and return the scrap to RioGrande.com

[Former_Member]

I have used Argentium and while I like it, it does have less silver than sterling. I find myself in a bind when people ask is that sterling and I have to say not it is Argentium which is a tarnish free silver, but do I say it has less silver than sterling? They have a right to know.

[Former_Member]

Argentium actually has slighty more silver than regular sterling. Argentium is 93%, normal sterling is 92.5%.

I buy most of mine from a local Australian supplier, but when she doesn't have what I need I get it from Rio Grande or on Etsy.

[JewelryByGaladryl]

Yes, it is 930 silver, there is also a 960 silver version.

[Untwistedsister]

@Harriet .....Argentium is most certainly Sterling Silver - defined as 92.5% pure silver. In fact most Argentium is 93% pure silver. The difference is in the makeup of the other 7%. In your regular Sterling Silver the 7% is copper. In Argentium it is germanium.

Also, Argentium is NOT tarnish proof but is said to be tarnish resistant. But be careful....it reacts badly with some ingredients in lotions, especially sunscreen and it will turn it black in a heartbeat!

[Former_Member]

Argentium is wonderful and on Rio there is almost no difference in price. Not bank breaking and it is a great selling point. This is great for pearls, opals and other stones that you can't or don't want to dip in silver cleaner. Or for people who leave their jewelry out and don't want to constantly clean their jewelry. And it is true that it is tarnish inhibiting!
I plan to change over completely. Use up all of my sterling and only buy argentium from here forward. I do have this description in my policies and I put it in the description on the pieces made with Argentium (from Rio) So it is Sterling not just silver...you are still offering your customers sterling silver but you are also offering them an item that needs less upkeep!!!

Argentium® Sterling Silver
Made with a touch of germanium which greatly inhibits tarnish. This is still considered “sterling silver” and is a precious metal. This is wonderful for pearls and other stones which cannot be dipped in silver cleaner.

Thanks for the info about the lotions! I've never encountered or heard of that before.

[Former_Member]

Argentium is super gorgeous. Another thing, the temper of dead soft Argentium is unbelievably workable, I find. (Then again, I've never really used much DS .925, mostly half-hard.) It might also depend on the source I use - gsgold.com which still has the best prices anywhere I've seen, and incredible quality.

[FleurDeLeeDesign]

I love Argentium. No different than Sterling except it doesn't tarnish as fast. Tell customers it is "tarnish-resistant" sterling silver.