Argentium silver (patented in 1998)[1] is a brand of modern tarnish-resistant
silver alloys, containing either 94% or 96% silver. Argentium alloys replace some of the
copper in the traditional
sterling silver (92.5%
silver + 7.5% copper) with the
metalloidgermanium.[a][1][2]
Both argentium 940 and argentium 960 alloys exceed the standard required for
hallmarking as
sterling silver, and argentium 960 silver meets the standard for hallmarking as
Britannia silver (95.84% silver).
Origins and description
Argentium silver is the result of research at the Art and Design Research Institute (ADRI), School of Art & Design,
Middlesex University, by Peter Johns and colleagues. The project began in 1990 with research on the effects of
germanium additions to silver
alloys. Germanium was discovered to impart the following properties to sterling silver:[3]
Many of these properties significantly affect the traditional methods of working silver. For instance the absence of firescale eliminates tedious and time-consuming steps required by the silver worker using traditional sterling silver. It also eliminates the need for plating the final product which is often done on manufactured items because of the problems introduced by firescale. Tarnish resistance is of significant importance to both silver workers and the wearer of silver jewellery.
Argentium silver was patented[1] and is trademarked by Argentium Silver Company, UK.
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The "environmental" advantages result from eliminating the need for harsh chemicals involved in removing or plating over firescale.
References
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abcdUS patent, expired (lifetime) 6168071, Johns, Peter Gamon, "Method for joining materials together by a diffusion process using silver / germanium alloys and a silver / germanium alloy", issued 2 January 2001, assigned to Middlesex Silver Co.
class C22C5/06 "Alloys based on silver"; expiration 27 August 2016; link via Google Patents
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Johns, Peter (18–21 May 1997). "Fire-stain resistant silver alloys". In Schneller, Dave (ed.). Jewelry Manufacturing Technology 1997. 11th Santa Fe Symposium on Jewelry Manufacturing Technology, 18–21 May 1997, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Boulder, CO: Met-Chem Research.
ISBN978-0-931913-25-9.
OCLC47691741.
ISBN0-931913-25-X
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Johns, Peter & Davis, Sam (9–12 June 2007). "The properties and applications of argentium sterling silver". 31st Annual Conference of the International Precious Metals Institute 2007 and Petroleum Refining Seminar 2006. 31st IPMI Conference, 9–12 June 2007, Miami, Florida. Curran Associates (published October 2007).
ISBN978-1-60423-394-0.
Further reading
Edge, A.M.; Edge, V.E. & Edge, J.J. (2005). "Investigation on the quality of enamel on germanium silver". The Goldsmiths' Company Technical Bulletin (2): 8–10.