Daily Wire Tip Sept. 3: Recycled Argentium Wire?

Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
September 3, 2010

Question:

I just read this in the description of a pair of earrings that are listed for sale on Etsy.

These earrings are constructed out of 16-gauge reclaimed Argentium Sterling Silver. Argentium Sterling Silver has the alloy Germanium in the patented formula. This makes Argentium Sterling Silver- “the most tarnish resistant silver available today.” You know you will feel good when you purchase these earrings because no added harm was done to the environment for the materials.

How can she be sure it is “reclaimed” argentium silver and what does “no added harm was done to the environment” mean?

-Cheri in Astoria, Oregon

Answer:

Ok, this question really intrigued me and I spent quite a bit of time researching “reclaimed” metal products such as Argentium and sterling silver, etc. From what I have seen and read, no refinery advertises “recycled precious metals” for sale.

If a person is a true metalsmith and has the ability to melt down precious metals, they can then reuse those metals in any way they see fit, such as casting, sheet that can be rolled into wire and patterns or raised into vessels, etc. As for wire, well, there I don’t know. It seems that large quantities of wire need to be made professionally. I suppose that about all of us are using recycled metals, because for years folks have been sending their scrap to refineries to be melted down and reused. With regards to “no added harm”: well, if the metals were dug from the earth once and then have been recycled for new uses, then no extra harm came by having to re-dig or mine these particular metals again.

Editor’s Note: Since this Tip was published, we were alerted to a new page on the Argentium website, we invite you to take a look: Argentium Responsible Silver. Argentium is in fact made using only recycled silver, yet another reason to use this silver wire!

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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12 Comments

1. 

   Erin Hoyt

   September 3, 2010 at 8:41 am

   I wonder if the wire was simply taken from some other project (necklace, bracelet, etc) gone wrong or just unwanted, and therefore being referred to as “reclaimed”….. ?
   • 

     dalecgr

     September 3, 2010 at 10:45 am

     Could be Erin . . . if so then I use a lot of ‘recycled’ wire !
2. 

   Verita Shaak

   September 3, 2010 at 10:59 am

   I know Art Clay Silver and PMC are made from virtually pure silver that has been reclaimed from old film, etc., but that makes fine silver, not argentium, and I can’t imagine making wire with it.
3. 

   Pat Sessa

   September 3, 2010 at 11:11 am

   I agree with Erin. It must mean “reused” from a different project.
4. 

   Laurie Baker

   September 3, 2010 at 11:24 am

   I bet thats what it is Erin! Without being a true Metalsmith, “reclaimed” probably means used for something else.
5. 

   Unkamengifts

   September 3, 2010 at 11:58 am

   There are numerous craftsmen who draw their own wire. Argentium is particularly well suited to recycling because it is more ductle and you don’t have to worry about firescale. We reuse our scraps in a variety of ways and I know a number of artisans who send their scraps to refineries and/or other artisans for recycling into a variety of findings AND wire. Take a look in MJSA and you will find numerous ads for recycled precious metals.
   Refineries themselves are highly regulated by the EPA and are “clean” operations.
   We purchase our Argentium wire from a source that uses renewable/recycled resources.
   It is our favorite metal to work with and we use it every day.
   • 

     dalecgr

     September 4, 2010 at 12:49 am

     Thanks so much Unkamengifts, we all appreciate your added infomation.
6. 

   Gayle

   September 3, 2010 at 12:45 pm

   I’m trying to identify countries of origin for as many of the items that I design with as possible. I was told by my supplier of wire that the majority of silver wire is made from recycled silver. He said that there is “little active mining of silver.” So, I’d speculate that the Etsy ad might be making the assumption that purchased argentium wire was all (or almost all) recycled metal.
7. 

   Regina Rose

   September 3, 2010 at 7:18 pm

   I use prdominately Sterling Silver, but sometimes I use gold and even Argentium Silver. I always recycle my own metal, even make my own wire using my rolling mill. Besides being green it proves to be more economical as the prices of metal keep going up.
   • 

     dalecgr

     September 4, 2010 at 12:46 am

     Nice Regina!
8. 

   Julie

   October 22, 2011 at 2:44 pm

   This is referring to the fact that Argentium guarantees traceability of its raw silver. It is certified that Argentium is produced using only recycled silver.
9. 

   cheri

   March 7, 2012 at 8:07 am

   WOW! I want to thank you for adding the link to the Argentium website. I knew that I was in love with Argentium silver the first time I used it but after reading more about it now I know why I love it.
   Thank you also for adding links to the past tips and questions each day. I almost always follow at least one of them each day to see something that I missed or have forgotten.
   Cheri, in Astoria, OR