When it comes to the silver jewellery in your collection, there’s a pretty good chance most of it’s sterling it's the most common type of silver used in jewellery manufacturing today. Sterling silver is durable, looks great and is easy to clean. But there’s another type of silver that jewellery makers are embracing.
Argentium silver is relatively new. It was first produced in 1990 and was patented and trademarked in the UK by the Argentium Silver Company. And while it’s still heavily overshadowed by sterling, many jewellers and wearers are seeking it out.
What Makes Argentium Silver Different?
Argentium contains a slightly larger amount of pure silver than sterling. It comes in two grades - 935 (93.5% pure silver) and 960 (96.0% pure silver). The remaining material includes alloys such as germanium. Sterling, on the other hand, is composed of 92.5% pure silver along with other metals (usually copper).
This small difference in composition comes with some attractive benefits:
- Argentium silver is tarnish-resistant and extremely durable, which means less maintenance.
- It’s made from 100% recycled silver.
- Argentium silver jewellery is whiter than sterling and shines a bit brighter.
- It contains hypoallergenic properties and is nickel-free - perfect for people who are allergic to sterling silver.
Experience the Greatness of Argentium Jewellery
Using Argentium silver enables me to work with a different material and bring versatility to my line. And while sterling is my go-to, I’m excited to mix things up.
My new Orb Collection is all Argentium. With this collection, I refrained from oxidising some pieces to bring out the shine of Argentium. Then, I used oxidisation on others for an old-school look. Playing with the contrast was a blast and showed me how dynamic Argentium can be.
If you’re new to Argentium jewellery, I highly suggest adding some to your collection. Take a look at my Electric Tides Collection and Orb Collection to find a piece that speaks to you.