[Jewelry making - Article 00011] - Re: [Orchid] More Testimonials on Argentium Sterling

[Cynthia Eid]

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>     I'm really appreciating the conversations rolling around on
>     argentium. This experience/info is certainly stuff that is hard to
>     find anywhere else. Once a finished piece is baked at 300 degrees
>     for 1/2 hour to raise the germanium layer, how plastic is this
>     outer layer once we get to setting stones, be it prongs or bezels?
>     Up to a 1mm transparent coating was mentioned. Would tiny cracks
>     result? 

    There are two kinds of heating: 

    -20 min. at 250 F. to simply increase the germanium oxide layer on
    the surface 

    -one hour at 580 F to harden the silver, which also increases the
    germanium oxide layer. 

    The germanium oxide layer is transparent, and highly ductile and
    malleable. No problem with forming, setting, etc. However, the metal
    may or may not be too hard for stone setting after hardening-----each
    case would depend on the gauge of the metal and the situation. In
    general, I recommend fine silver bezels, so that you can harden the
    piece, and still set the bezel easily. Prongs are not usually a
    problem to set even after hardening. A hardened AS prong is not as
    hard as a 14K prong.

Cynthia Eid
http://www.cynthiaeid.com
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