Argentium silver is an alloy with special properties that make it easy for artisans to work with. Learn more about it in this presentation.

1. Argentium Silver and
Firescale Prevention

2. A Note on Impurities and Alloys
• Whether for jewelry or industry, precious
metals can contain impurities for
different reasons.
• Sometimes impurities are naturally
occurring, and other times they are
added to create an alloy with new
aesthetics or “features” that pure
precious metals don’t have.
• Argentium sterling silver is one such alloy.

3. Makeup of Argentium Silver
• Argentium silver was patented in the early ‘90s by
Argentium Silver Company in the UK.
• This alloy is just like normal sterling silver except for
one small difference: germanium.
• While sterling silver is about 92.5% silver and 7.5%
copper, Argentium sterling silver replaces a small
amount of the copper (about 1.2%) with germanium.

4. Properties of Argentium Silver
The addition of germanium to the alloy confers
several beneficial new properties, including:
• Firestain / Firescale elimination
• Better tarnish resistance
• Precipitation hardening / heat-hardening
properties
• Increased ductility
• Increased thermal and electrical resistance

5. Argentium Silver 960
• The addition of germanium can benefit other silver
alloys as well.
• Another alloy, Argentium Silver 960, is just like
Britannia Silver in terms of silver
purity.
• As with Argentium sterling silver,
some of the copper is replaced
with germanium.

6. The Problem of Firescale
• Firescale is a dark discoloration on silver caused by
heating.
• Firescale is a serious cosmetic problem that inhibits the
work of many jewelry craftsman.
• The only way to fix an unsightly firescale is to either
buff it off with acids or abrasives, remove the
affected silver, or plate over it with a fresh layer of
silver.

7. Firescale Explained
• The reason why silver alloys are vulnerable to firescale
is because of their copper content.
• As the silver is heated, it allows oxygen molecules to
pass through.
• This causes the copper to oxidize well below the surface –
creating firescale that is difficult to remove.
• Germanium can prevent firescale because it oxidizes
preferentially to the copper.
• Unlike copper, germanium oxide is transparent and does not
discolor the silver.

8. How to Prevent Firescale
• When Argentium silver is heated, the germanium
oxidizes creating a transparent layer that protects the
copper in the alloy from oxygen exposure.
• Without that exposure, copper oxide never forms and
firescale never appears.
• Since germanium oxide is self-regenerating, the alloy is
permanently protected from firescale – making it a
superior coating compared to rhodium, which will wear
away eventually.

9. About MGS
Manhattan Gold & Silver (MGS) is a precious metals refiner that has been based in
Manhattan’s historic Diamond District since 1985. We are a B2B company that
buys and recycles precious metal scraps that accumulate in other businesses.
We serve:
• Jewelers
• Pawnbrokers
• Dentists
• The industrial sector
• Antique dealers
• Machinists
• Domestic mining
• And more!
• MGS also creates charts, calculators, and other online tools for our customers to
use.
• Try our Precious Metals Prices app, which lets you monitor the real-time precious metals
market situation from anywhere, right from your iPhone, iPad, or Android device.

10. Recycle your Precious
Metals for Profit
• MGS accepts gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.
• Payouts are based on the London Fixing.
• Up to 99% payout (among the highest in the US)
• Up to 98.5% for gold brought in for hand testing.
• Not in NYC? Ship us your precious metals using our Ship &
Sell service which offers:
• Same day wired payment (once lot is received)
• Discounted, insured shipping
• Payout calculator

11. Connect with MGS
• For amazing facts, history and news, read our gold and precious metals blog.
• Join the conversation about precious metals on the MGS page on Facebook.
• Follow gold, silver, and other precious metal trends at the MGS Twitter account.
• Circle MGS on Google+ to hear our latest updates.
• If you do business with us, connect with us on the MGS LinkedIn page.
• To see precious metal melting and refinement in action, visit the MGS YouTube
channel.