Silver News

London-based Argentium Silver Co. has launched a new sterling silver product that should keep its shine for many years without polishing.

Argentium Sterling Silver is the first highly tarnishresistant sterling available for mass production, company officials say. Tiffany, Gucci and other manufacturers and designers have already produced items with Argentium and mass market distribution is expected to grow as new partnerships are established.

Although the sterling silver alloy – germanium is a major element in this patented product – is not totally tarnish-free, it reportedly has significantly better tarnish resistance than standard sterling, and any tarnish that does develop can be easily removed with a wet sponge, according to developer Peter Johns. No polish is required, as long as the slight yellowing is removed promptly. The product has been tested in independent laboratories such as CATRA, The Cutlery and Allied Trades Association, in the U.K., under tarnishing conditions thousands of times more aggressive than in the typical home, company officials say. They claim that Argentium Sterling Silver will still be tarnish-free after two years, because it does not rely on plating or coatings that degrade or wash off over time. Indeed, Argentium builds and increases its tarnish resistance over time and has the ability to constantly regenerate its anti-tarnishing properties.

Beyond its high resistance to tarnish, Argentium offers other benefits. The metal is free from firescale when heated, which eliminates the need to strip off the unwanted oxidation coating with hazardous materials. Therefore, it’s environmentally safer in the workplace. The company also says it is the first sterling silver to be laser-welded in a manufacturing environment. In addition, it is capable of achieving hardness levels twice those of standard sterling silver.

Cynthia Eid, a Lexington, Massachusetts-based jewelry designer and metalsmith, who has worked with the alloy for several years, notes: “This is a major breakthrough for silver. I was thrilled to find out that Argentium Sterling Silver does not firescale, and that it is more ductile than any other sterling silver alloy out there. It is also extremely tarnish-resistant. I have not seen any of the pieces I’ve worked with tarnish whatsoever. Argentium Sterling Silver has everything going for it, and it’s been a huge hit with my clients.”

Argentium has other benefits for designers. Any product requiring spring properties or memory, either in components or finished pieces, cannot be made successfully in standard sterling silver. Argentium Sterling Silver solves this problem, and because it is stronger and more dent-resistant, it allows for bolder, bigger and unique designs that are lighter and do not sacrifice quality.

For retailers, Argentium eliminates the need to re-polish stock on a regular basis. Simple dusting with a soft cloth removes finger marks and maintains the original, bright condition of the product.

Argentium Sterling Silver has partnered with Stern-Leach, a U.S. manufacturer of silver alloy and fabricated silver, to make the product available to silversmiths, designers and retailers.

Silver News - First Quarter 2005