Sterling silver beads

[kellyr]

Hi...I have been beading for two years now, and am puzzled as to why some sterling silver beads/findings seem to tarnish while others don't?? If I have a customer buy a piece, and the silver tarnishes, they think its cheap, when in essence I tell them that is a sign it is sterling silver. Any answers or suggestions? I hate to quit using real silver and go to cheaper plated silver, which tends to rub off.
thanks! Kelly

[Polly]

Some sterling silver items, especially charms and chains from the same companies that make 14kt (or higher) gold charms and chains, are rhodium plated.  I think the main reason this is done, is to keep the sterling silver items from tarnishing in the display cases of department store and fine jewelry stores.  The rhodium plate keeps the sterling items looking bright and shiny like the 14kt yellow and white gold, also for sale in those types of stores.  

For an item that is rarely worn, this can be a feature.  It will be shiny every year when you pull it out of your jewelry box to wear it once per year.  

But for items that are frequently worn, the chain or charm looks very odd when the plating starts to wear off.  The sterling silver color and rhodium plate don't quite match when side by side ... and the sterling now starts to tarnish, too.


But that may slowly change ... there is a new alloy on the market.  It is basically sterling silver, but I believe some of the copper has been replaced with Germanium.  The alloy is called Argentium Silver™. It is a non-tarnishing version of sterling silver.  Since it is trademarked, it may take a while for it to be mass-produced and widely distributed.  I expect there to be very few allergies to it, because Germanium seems like it should be fairly inert (but it's been a loong time since Chemistry so this is a guesstimate, not a formal fact).

We have some postings in here about ways to prevent tarnish on your traditional sterling silver.  I'll see if I can find them and add some links to this set of postings.

--Polly

[Russ Nobbs]

Some silver beads and findings take longer to tarnish than others is that they are coated with a thin lacquer finish. This protects the item from tarnishing until the lacquer wears off. Generally this is good while it is on display and it wears of fairly rapidly after someone starts to wear it.

If you mix coated and uncoated (raw) silver in the same necklace, some parts will tarnish faster.

I agre with Polly that the Argentium Silver™ is going to make for some big changes in silver jewelry... but it ma take a while.