Argentium Silver
I work almost exclusively with argentium silver when making silver jewelry. There are very few uses for pure silver, and almost all jewelry is made with silver alloys. Some contain nickel which can cause allergic reactions in some people. Most just contain copper or other filler to make the silver stronger and more ductile. Argentium is trademarked allow that contains a small amount of germanium as well as copper. Although the principal benefit of argentium and its added germanium is its resistance to firestain or firescale (a discoloration that occurs when silver is heated in the presence of oxygen), this does not happen in most of my jewelry and there are other qualities that I find make it superior to silver that is rated only sterling. It is also more pure, less likely to contain any nickel, more durable, and brighter. The most important quality is that it is many times more resistant to tarnish.
Purity
All true argentium meets the requirements to be called “sterling silver”, but not all sterling silver meets the purity requirements of “argentium silver”. Many argentium silver alloys meet the higher purity requirement of “fine silver”. Purity is one method of calculating “value”, but this is not the main reason I prefer Argentium.
Any amount of nickel in jewelry that is worn regularly can cause a rash in people who are allergic to it. Due to the increased purity requirements of argentium and the care my source takes while making their wire, the risk of any nickel contamination is much lower in argentium silver than in most other alloys.
Durability
The increased ductility granted by the inclusion of germanium in the silver alloy makes this material perfect for wrapping jewelry. Not only is it easier to work with since it is much stronger, but it is also more resistant to normal wear and tear. The wire can be manipulated more times before fatiguing and can be bent around tighter angles. This allows for a much more interesting, finished piece that is still very resilient.
Brightness and Tarnish Resistance
The visible difference between fresh sterling and fresh argentium silver can be quite subtle, though still noticeable. The argentium will appear whiter and more reflective. Although all silver will catch the eye and only a close comparison will reveal the difference initially, the real benefit will become clear in time. As the lower grades of silver tarnish and require cleaning to return their sheen, argentium will keep its original finish (not indefinitely, all silver requires care). To deliver different textures and tarnishes on argentium silver pieces, I have to use very potent oxidizers to simulate the passage of time.
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