Talk to me about argentium silver

[hoofbeats95]

I''m considering a JKT ring and I know many of you have some pieces. Are they argentium silver? Can you speak on what that is like? For example my stackers are in sterling silver and while I love them - I''m not in love with sterling. Does argentium silver have a richer appearance? I''m trying to decide if I should go with that, or splurge on white gold? Will I be happy with the quality of argentium? TIA!

 

[movie zombie]

searching the internet will give you a lot of info, including the manufacturer''s website and this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentium_sterling_silver

mz

 

[jstarfireb]

Katiedid''s new ring is Argentium - maybe she''ll chime in!

I''m starting a project with her and having it done in Argentium. I''m not sure how it compares to WG, but here''s what Julia wrote to me in an Etsy convo:

Quote from Julia:

"There is a lot of info about Argentium on their website www.argentiumsilver.com.

It is still ''sterling'' as the pure silver content is 92.56-93%. It is made with germanium as the alloy instead of copper, so it does not have the same reactivity as traditional sterling. That makes it so much easier to work with because it doesn''t develop firescale during soldering and annealing, which make clean-up quicker and less of a chore. And yes, it is incredibly tarnish resistant. There is a great description of how this works on their website. The germanium molecules essentially migrate to the surface and form a protective skin that resists oxidation. This also makes the silver less reactive to chemicals like soaps, chlorine,etc.

There are great advantages to working with it as far as other processes go as well. Katie''s ring is a great example. The supports for the bezel are very delicate, and I would never have trusted regular sterling for this design. Argentium is almost as soft and malleable as fine silver when annealed, but can be heat treated at 550 degrees to harden beyond traditional sterling. So, I was able to forge those delicate pieces without the metal becoming brittle, then heat treat to harden once it was complete. The upper bezel for that ring was thick fine silver, so that stayed soft during the hardening process. The surface becomes very hard too, and scratch resistant. The metal does not become brittle though, like you would think. It remains incredibly ductile in the hardened state, so that something is way more likely to bend than break free.

I also think the silver color is just richer and brighter."

Hoofbeats, you could probably have the Argentium plated with rhodium to look more like WG if you prefer that look.

 

[hoofbeats95]

I was hoping katiedid would jump in. Several other members have JKT rings too. Julia told me all the stuff about working with it, but I''m curious as to how it looks in person.

 

[glitterata]

I''m expecting to get my Julia Taylor Argentium silver ring soon, probably next week. I''ll let you know what it''s like.

 

[beaujolais]

Would it be as strong as white gold? Or strong enough?

I just lost a pretty green sapphire out of a silver setting. Darn.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

I thought the Arg silver looked like silver...lol. Although I did love her diamond-satin finish, I think that gives the metal a very rich look.

 

[hoofbeats95]

Date: 9/8/2009 4:11:28 PM
Author: MakingTheGrade
I thought the Arg silver looked like silver...lol. Although I did love her diamond-satin finish, I think that gives the metal a very rich look.

Do you have pics of the diamond-satin finish? I don''t see any in her etsy shop I don''t think?

 

[katiedid]

hi hoofbeats! Yep, my JKT ring is argentium. Julia told me basically the same things that jstar said. It''s supposed to be extremely tarnish resistant, which I loved. I haven''t had mine long enough for it to have tarnished even if it wasn''t argentium, but so far, it looks just as shiny and white as it did the day I got it. Julia also said she did some stuff for her sister in argentium and I think she said it still looked brand new after several months!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

My spinel pendant had the satin finish, lost it though

Here it is on her website:
http://www.juliakaytaylor.com/galleries/sets/images/domeringneck.jpg

 

[glitterata]

MTG, did you lose the pendant or just the finish?

My Julia ring arrived today (SMTR thread). It looks and feels like silver. Exquisitely crafted silver, more delicate than other silver jewelry I have (Julia says Argentium's hardness makes it safe), but still, silver. It feels lightweight if you're used to platinum, and it has the bright white color of silver, not the yellowy gray of white gold or the heavier gray of platinum. My ring has a gorgeous liquid polish--not sure how long that will last. It might last longer than ordinary silver, which is softer.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Such a gorgeous ring Glitterata! Sadly I lost the pendant

One day I''ll get another JKT piece though, once I''m over this little heartbreak.

 

[packrat]

Glitterata-woohoo! I''m going to run over to SMTR and check it out!!

 

[glitterata]

Oh, how sad, MakingTheGrade! I hope it turns up!

Thank you, Packrat.