[Jewelry making - Article 00165] - Re: [Orchid] Cloisonne Enameling on Cast Silver

[Kevin]

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>        Sterling silver is always and only, 92.5% silver and 7.5%
>     copper. Adding any amount of any other element in excess of the
>     accepted level for "trace" elements makes it another alloy. 

    Allan, I have to disagree.  Maybe the definition of Sterling is
    different where you are, but here in the UK it means a silver alloy
    containing a minimum of 92.5 percent silver, as determined by a
    specified test method.  The remaining 7.5 percent can be anything
    else. I suppose the implication is really that the 7.5 percent can be
    anything else that alloys with silver or is totally miscible with it.
     It's normally copper of course, but even that wouldn't be pure ....
    nobody makes Sterling using "SpecPure" grade copper.  Indeed other
    elements are deliberately added for specific properties.  Heat
    hardening Sterling contains, I think, some magnesium.  Sterling is
    also available with germanium and or silicon, which are supposed to
    tarnish less readily. They all still contain the required minimum of
    92.5 percent silver though.  As to whether anyone would want to
    include zinc, that's another question, but they could if they wanted
    to.  As I say, maybe the regulations are different where you work. 

Kevin  (NW England, UK)

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