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Argentium Silver....can it be rhodium plated?

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Super_Ideal_Rock
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Hey folks, hope you are all having a nice weekend!

I have this ring I bought recently which I love but it keeps tarnishing. I have no idea why but I figured if I got it rhodium plated it would fix the whole problem.

Can argentium silver be plated and is there anything else I need to consider before proceeding?

TIA!
 
I know platinum silver can't be done with black rhodium.
No help for you specifically - but thought I throw that out there.
 
Hey folks, hope you are all having a nice weekend!

I have this ring I bought recently which I love but it keeps tarnishing. I have no idea why but I figured if I got it rhodium plated it would fix the whole problem.

Can argentium silver be plated and is there anything else I need to consider before proceeding?

TIA!
Store it in a dry place with a piece of chalk so that the chalk absorbs the moisture in the air in the meantime
 
Rfisher, I read your thread about the black rhodium recently when I was searching through Yvonne Raley threads. I'm so sorry your ring didn't turn out how you had hoped. This is also an Yvonne ring but preloved and I don't know what is going on but this ring turns gun metal gray to black within days of me polishing it. I'm not s fussy person but this is annoying.

Molly, thank you so much for sharing that, very informative. It doesn't look like my easy solution is going to work then. Will probably need to have my spinel reset in gold then which stinks but this silver is just not working for me.

Thanks Pinto, I didn't know about that chalk trick, I'm wearing the ring daily but having to polish it every couple of days which is crazy.
 
Is it tarnishing while you're wearing it? It could be you! ;)2

Seriously though, here's a thread about someone who had the problem of quick tarnishing whilst wearing. A lot of thoughts are thrown out, but no conclusions.
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=11834

MY take would be, since commercial sterlings are pretty much the same (92.5% silver + 7.5% copper), and I read that Argentium is made by only one entity in the US, then variation in the metal is not the issue. Your quick tarnishing is probably due to variations in your environment - maybe you, maybe pollution in the air? Are you wearing the ring daily? (it sounds like you do, since you're polishing it frequently) Do you have other silver pieces that you wear daily that do not tarnish like your ring?
 
Post a picture of it at its worst?
 
From what I understand, and I have bought several Argentium silver rings (which have all kept their white-silver color and shine/polish), you need to be sure you are cleaning/polishing it with a cloth dedicated to Argentium silver ... don't use the same cloth you use on your Sterling Silver pieces. I don't remember whether you also need to use a special polish for Argentium (different than S/S polish) but perhaps that is worth checking out too.
 
Ksinger, I think you are right because I was always able to wear sterling without issue but over the last 6 months my silver tarnishes while I'm wearing it. So weird. The ring tarnishes much quicker but maybe because of the higher silver content? I'm going to check that link out though.

Maryam, thanks for sharing that, I have been using silver polish on it but not a polishing cloth, it didn't occur to me that I might need to use something special.

Here is a pic (albeit no great) of how it's looking this morning. It almost looks deliberately oxidized IMO.
IMG_2716.JPG
 
Are you taking any new meds maybe? (Not prying, just something to consider). Are any other silver pieces you have, doing the same thing? Ah just re-read your post. AHA! ALL pieces. Got it.

Really, there are only 2 things (to the best of my knowledge) that tarnish silver - sulfur and oxygen. Sulfur is much faster. So something either on or exhaled by your skin, or in your air, has a more than usual amount of sulfur. How it got there is the mystery.

For the record, I have several pieces (that I made) that are fine (pure) silver, and they don't tarnish quickly at all. Not even while not stored away, and not while on me. So....? o_O

And yes, your ring does look deliberately oxidized. I have several pieces - that combine oxidized silver with gold. One is a ring with an oxidized band, and a 24K gold bezel for the peridot, and the other is a pairof earrings with gypsy set diamonds in oxidized silver, with 22K posts. It's a "look" - I like the contrast. So, I'm thinking you should run with it, have the setting re-done in gold gold (that pink would look amazing in gold!) - while keeping the oxidized silver band, or just get it re-done in rhodium-plated white.
 
Ksinger, that is so interesting, I'm not taking any new meds however I did use sulfur ointment a couple of months ago for a skin condition for about a week. Still that's probably coincidental.

Your oxidized ring sounds really cool with the peridot. I am not used to this oxodized look but maybe it will grow on me. I'll live with it for a while and save up for a gold setting. Thanks for the suggestion!
 
I managed to snap this outside.IMG_2717.JPG
 
Thanks for the pic!
I can understand your frustration.
I don't know if I'd be able (or have patience) to get into the halo's nook and crannies with the polishing cloth.
Any difference I wonder in storing overnight while not being worn with the chalk, or wrapped in polishing cloth or anti tarnish paper/brick that are available.
 
It's still mighty pretty though!
 
Grapes are sprayed with sulphur based solution. I know from googling "why do I smell like sulphur" after thinking that I was stroking out.

Have you been eating a little lot of grapes lately?
 
Oh yah, your ring is really pretty.
 
I don't have any argentium silver pieces, but I did read up on it once and isn't it supposed to be tarnish-resistant due to the germanium content (compared to sterling, which will tarnish over time)? That's so strange about your ring, Stephanie! Hope you can figure out a solution!
 
Found a link which has some interesting info:
http://www.naturallynickelfree.com/.../Jewelry_Care__Argentium_Sterling_Silver.html

Cleaning & Polishing
First of all, you will rarely need to polish your Argentium Sterling Silver. Sometimes people who have always used Standard Sterling have a hard time adapting to this new reality.

Do not use cleaners intended for use with standard Sterling Silver. If you feel that your jewelry needs cleaning, You can clean it in warm water with mild soap solution, then pat it dry gently with a soft cloth. It can be immersed in water if there are no soft stones or pearls in the piece. Do not handle it with an abrasive cloth or sharp tools.


Storing Your Jewelry
It is best to store Argentium individually in a soft cloth or plastic pouch, or jewelry box. This will further minimize the chance of your jewelry tarnishing, and prevents it from getting scratched.

You should not allow your Argentium Sterling Silver jewelry to touch against regular sterling silver during storage. There is something about Standard Sterling that does cause Argentium to tarnish badly.

Also (weird but true), you should not store your Argentium near rubber bands. Sulfur is used in the making of rubber bands, and the residual sulfur present is enough to cause the Argentium to tarnish too. Just keep it in its own little pouch or box and you’ll be fine.
 
Ksinger, that is so interesting, I'm not taking any new meds however I did use sulfur ointment a couple of months ago for a skin condition for about a week. Still that's probably coincidental.

Your oxidized ring sounds really cool with the peridot. I am not used to this oxodized look but maybe it will grow on me. I'll live with it for a while and save up for a gold setting. Thanks for the suggestion!

So you can get a look at what is being done, a selection of artists using mixed and oxidized metals - Lika Behar(my peridot ring), Sarah Graham(passed up a good deal, wish I hadn't),
Daniel O'Driscoll (have 22K/oxidized sterling and diamond earrings), and Todd Reed(I wish).

Sarah Graham is working in another finish, not the standard oxidized silver - hers is oxidized cobalt chrome. I'm pretty sure it's on a silver base, but it's been a while. Not something you could do at home, I'm thinking, unlike oxidizing your silver in a bag of hot hard cooked egg yolks - and yes I've done that before. On purpose. ;-) Anyway, her stuff is matte midnight black. Very cool look.
 
Ringo, I haven't eaten grapes in ages. You know as someone suggested above, I'm just going to go with it. The black finish is kind of growing on me! Thanks for the compliment =)2

Thanks Mochiko for that information! This was bought pre-loved and I didn't polish it until it started tarnishing. So I don't know if regular silver polish was used on it prior and that's why it keeps turning or what. I was fighting it before but since I've let it go it kind of looks neat with the spinel so I'm just going to rock it like this.
 
IMG_2727.JPG IMG_2728.JPG

Ksinger, those designers have some neat looking things. Being honest, didn't really think oxidized jewelry had such a following. Might need to add some more pieces down the line.

This ring I have which I've said has turned black isn't really black, more like gunmetal gray. It looks really neat in person but it's hard to capture on camera but here is where we are at today. Sorry if these pictures are huge for some reason they come out big on my Iphone.
 
That's pretty amazing actually. You're better than liver of sulfur AND a bag full of egg yolks! (jk!) And that really is the finish you get on non-recessed silver, that gunmetal gray. It never gets really thick and dark because of the wear issues. I know my ring could use a re-darkening since the wear areas (on the band between the fingers) have polished up a bit and I like the contrast-y-ness of the darker oxidation.

Oh, another one to check out is Armenta. There just really are a lot of designers incorporating oxidation into their designs now. I like the creativity I see in those designers' stuff. Classic is great, but it's all mostly the same in the end. I rarely am tempted to go in most jewelry stores for that reason. Most of the stuff is essentially the same ('cept for big honkers, always like to see those!). But find a gallery with smaller designers doing interesting stuff? I'm drooling on the case.

We go to Santa Fe reasonably often, and I always enjoy the Karen Melfi Gallery and The Golden Eye. Be sure and check both of those out if you are in Santa Fe.

Oh, and I was in Boulder recently, and stopped at Hurdle's Jewelry, specifically to see some of Erika Winter's stuff. OMG. We saw a stunning emerald cut ring of hers. The delicacy of the gold work is dreamy to see online, but it's even more beautiful in person. Even my husband was like "Whoa!". He wouldn't let me have it though, the cad. Humph. He wouldn't let me have a $2000 jacket I wanted either. What is wrong with him??? ;)2

OK, shutting up now. =)2

ETA - OK, being a bit more precise, you can get really dark black oxidation on silver, I'm just not sure of what it takes to get it. More sulfur, longer, I suspect. Liver of sulfur is usually what you hear of being used, I'm just assuming there are techniques for getting that thick black oxidation you see in hard to reach places - like in elaborate silverware patterns and such.
 
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I LOVE the black finish. Please leave it as is.

:love:
 
Erika Winter's looks so beautiful online, I can't even imagine it looking better! Christmas is coming up, men tend to be more open to special things when they are in the holiday spirit ;-)

I'm all that and a bag of yolks lol! Seriously though there is money to be made here, like send me your silver and I will naturally oxidize it!:lol-2:
 
upload_2017-11-1_16-14-55.jpegI had 2 of these 2mm bubble bands made in silver. They were too white so had a jeweler rhodium plate them. No tarnish and they match my platinum rings.:appl:
 
I'm really surprised to see Argentium silver tarnish that much. I have three rings in A. silver that haven't tarnished a bit in five years or more - and they also seem pretty scratch-resistant. I hope you figure out what's causing it if this is not the look you're going for. (My totally uneducated guess: somewhere along the line someone wanted oxidize the inside of the halo, and dipped the whole piece in oxidizing solution instead of just "painting" the halo. As I said though that's pure speculation on my part.)
 
VR, I'm thinking that the previous owner used silver polish on it which from what I understand you are not supposed to do.

Even more strange, the inside of the ring is the bright shiny silver it's supposed to be! So I have no idea but I've just decided to wear it as is instead of trying to fight it. I was really perplexed though when I noticed the interior of the ring is not oxidized.:?:
 
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