We all know sterling silver quite well. It has been around for thousands of years and has been used for everything from silverware to jewelry. Now however, there is a new kind of silver that has been introduced to the public, called Argentium silver.
Argentium Silver is a superior and more desirable type of silver than sterling silver. It is the most significant development to silver that has happened in hundreds of years. This modern version of silver is superior because it contains more pure silver than traditional sterling silver, and shines more than platinum, gold, and sterling silver. It is actually the whitest metal in existence. In fact, Argentium silver is even rated as a whiter metal than rhodium, which is used to give white gold its shiny white color. Argentium silver is approximately 4.5 times brighter, and twice as white as traditional sterling silver. It also boasts the longest lasting shine. Lastly, this special new type of silver is tarnish-resistant, has no plating to possibly chip away or tarnish, and will never crack.
Traditional silver is stamped "925,"" meaning it is 92.5% pure silver, with other metals mixed in. In contrast, Argentium silver is 93.2% to 96% pure silver. As we know, the more pure jewelry is, the more desirable and valuable it is. While sterling silver used to be the benchmark of purity for silver jewelry, the public is starting to learn that Argentium silver now is."
Master Silversmith Peter Johns is responsible for inventing Argentium silver. In 1990, Johns and his team of researchers at the School of Art and Design at Middlesex University in London were studying the effects of adding different amounts of an element called Germanium to silver alloys. The team was trying to figure out how to exclude firestain from silver, which would make silver more environmentally friendly, eliminating human exposure to hazardous chemicals. In his research, Johns found that Germanium also has the benefits of increased ductility, thermal and electrical resistance, heat-hardening properties, and tarnish resistance. Argentium silver 932 is about 7 times more tarnish resistant than sterling silver, while Argentium 960 is nearly 8 times more resistant.
Argentium silver is harder and more durable than traditional sterling silver because of its specific alloy. This means that it is resistant to things that might otherwise damage traditional silver. Some sterling silver pieces tend to get dented, deformed or scratched when worn often. Argentium silver's durability avoids all of these potential damages.
Another important advantage to Argentium silver is that its alloys are nickel-free, meaning jewelry pieces can be worn with no problems by those individuals with nickel allergies.
We are pleased to announce that Jewels For Me is now offering this special Argentium silver to our customers, with more pieces being added to our site in the future.
