Letter 33005

Which silver doesn't tarnish? [Michigan]  

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Which is the silver that does not tarnish is it sterling silver or just silver.

Roger Martinez
jeweler - Wyoming, Michigan

Dear Roger!

All comercial silver alloys tarnish. Pure silver too.

Goran Budija
- Zagreb, Croatia

Silver that will not tarnish would be the one that is kept in a vaccum or has something on top to isolate its surface from the atmosphere (if you take it to outer space or other environment that does not contain sulfur it will be OK). There is also a number of alloys or metals that resemble silver and do not tarnish like platinum, palladium, etc.

Guillermo Marrufo
Monterrey, NL, Mexico

If you meant "which silver is less prone to tarnishing" then it would be pure/fine silver (which is usually too soft for most jewelry applications).

Jason Aube
- Flint, MI, USA

Some sterling silver is coated with (I think) Rodidium I've also heard it called Mexican or Argentinian silver and this does not tarnish. Could someone please tell me if this is the correct metal.

Paula Newcombe
- Hamilton

That would be "rhodium", Paula.

 
Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com Inc. - Brick, NJ

Thanks
Discovered the right mineral right after I posted this.
Did you know though there seems to be a new process of melting the silver so it won't tarnish. This silver is called Argentium silver.

Paula Newcombe
- Hamilton, ON, CAN

Thanks, Paula. Argentium® silver is apparently an alloy that includes germanium which is claimed to discourage tarnishing. I don't personally know much else about it but some silversmiths apparently feel it's quite good.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com Inc. - Brick, NJ

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