Many people love the look of silver and sterling silver. They love the shine of it, the color of it, and the way the metal feels against their skin. What they hate is the way it may react over time and the care that is needed to keep it looking its best. If this is the case with you, Argentium silver jewelry might be just what you are looking for.
There are several different types of silver. The first is the pure metal itself. It is actually quite soft and, while harder than gold, is still not hard enough to produce durable items. Sterling is an alloy. That is, it is a mixture of several metals. In the case of sterling, copper is traditionally added to the pure metal to harden it. It scratches less and can be worked into a variety of different items that will hold up to daily wear.
Germanium is the unique addition to silver that turns it from plain sterling to Argentium. The beautiful white shine is preserved but the germanium gives the finished metal a few different qualities. While metal smiths can work the finished alloy in the same way, it has different properties that make it much more appealing to consumers.
One of the benefits of interest to consumers is the fact that it stays shiny and does not tarnish in the same way that regular sterling does. Regular sterling oxidizes. That is, it reacts to oxygen in the air and the surface becomes dark and discolored. It needs to be stored in a special container that can help slow down the reaction or it needs polishing before it shows the beautiful shine that so many people love. This new alloy does tarnish but it is light in color and does not have the same dark appearance that people do not like.
Copper can also cause a lot of problems for people with metal allergies. If you find that wearing a sterling piece results in red, itchy or dry skin, it may be the copper you are reacting to. By replacing it with germanium, this problem can be easily avoided. The cost for Argentium pieces are lower than they would be if the same item were made from platinum or gold. Because of this, it makes these items more desirable for people on a budget.
Once you know what you are looking for, you can then start searching out individual pieces. You might want to start out by checking local stores to see if they offer this different variant of sterling. Being able to try specific pieces on can be helpful since sizing can vary quite a bit from piece to piece and from manufacturer to manufacturer. If you see pieces described as tarnish-free silver, you should ask and make sure they are actually Argentium and not made from some other metal or coated to prevent tarnishing.
Once you have a few pieces that you love, you will want to keep them looking their best. While it takes less to care for them than with regular silver, there are still a few things that you can do to keep your items looking as beautiful as they day you got them. Although the metal will not become dark, oils from your skin and dirt can still build up. Wiping down your pieces with a soft cloth will clean them and keep them shiny and beautiful.
While sterling can be lovely to look at, and to wear, it can be annoying and time consuming to maintain. You may find you spend hours polishing and cleaning your pieces and this may make you not want to wear them as much. If you want the look of silver, consider this wonderful alternative to traditional sterling.
There are several different types of silver. The first is the pure metal itself. It is actually quite soft and, while harder than gold, is still not hard enough to produce durable items. Sterling is an alloy. That is, it is a mixture of several metals. In the case of sterling, copper is traditionally added to the pure metal to harden it. It scratches less and can be worked into a variety of different items that will hold up to daily wear.
Germanium is the unique addition to silver that turns it from plain sterling to Argentium. The beautiful white shine is preserved but the germanium gives the finished metal a few different qualities. While metal smiths can work the finished alloy in the same way, it has different properties that make it much more appealing to consumers.
One of the benefits of interest to consumers is the fact that it stays shiny and does not tarnish in the same way that regular sterling does. Regular sterling oxidizes. That is, it reacts to oxygen in the air and the surface becomes dark and discolored. It needs to be stored in a special container that can help slow down the reaction or it needs polishing before it shows the beautiful shine that so many people love. This new alloy does tarnish but it is light in color and does not have the same dark appearance that people do not like.
Copper can also cause a lot of problems for people with metal allergies. If you find that wearing a sterling piece results in red, itchy or dry skin, it may be the copper you are reacting to. By replacing it with germanium, this problem can be easily avoided. The cost for Argentium pieces are lower than they would be if the same item were made from platinum or gold. Because of this, it makes these items more desirable for people on a budget.
Once you know what you are looking for, you can then start searching out individual pieces. You might want to start out by checking local stores to see if they offer this different variant of sterling. Being able to try specific pieces on can be helpful since sizing can vary quite a bit from piece to piece and from manufacturer to manufacturer. If you see pieces described as tarnish-free silver, you should ask and make sure they are actually Argentium and not made from some other metal or coated to prevent tarnishing.
Once you have a few pieces that you love, you will want to keep them looking their best. While it takes less to care for them than with regular silver, there are still a few things that you can do to keep your items looking as beautiful as they day you got them. Although the metal will not become dark, oils from your skin and dirt can still build up. Wiping down your pieces with a soft cloth will clean them and keep them shiny and beautiful.
While sterling can be lovely to look at, and to wear, it can be annoying and time consuming to maintain. You may find you spend hours polishing and cleaning your pieces and this may make you not want to wear them as much. If you want the look of silver, consider this wonderful alternative to traditional sterling.
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