Hi all
Thanx for the replies to the post. So I get it that there are some
very nasty sulphur compounds in the air that hit the ground when it
rains.
The rain does have a nasty instant effect on silver, much less with
Argentium wipes off with a polishing cloth.
But even without the rain sterling gets eaten by the air at this one
market unless cleaned all the time. It only takes 30 hours for this
to happen.
When I sold sterling I cleaned all my stock with a JCR ionic cleaner
every week stopped the problem.
Now those of us who make jewellery use Argentium so good to work and
so easy to clean. Except some times I still find the odd toxic finger
print and have to re-polish the piece. These finger prints are a dark
brown colour, what are these people sweating?
I sold a lady who turns sterling silver black very quickly an
Argentium bangle, 3 months later still clean and shiny.
This metal is just magic.
Don’t feel sorry for the stall holder who just got a large shipment
of cheap rubbish from Asia. You can see the firescale and wow it is a
funny colour for sterling LOL. He just can’t compete with Argentium.
These guys buy this stuff to make a quick buck but end up with as
David Geller points out profit losing old stock. He claims to make it
and know his silver but spends all day polishing it with a rouge
cloth. Rouge is for gold DO NOT USE IT ON SILVER AS THE IRON OXIDE
MICROSCOPICALLY IMBEDS INTO THE SILVER AND MAKES IT TARNISH FASTER.
Wonder boy also sizes up rings with a gem setting hammer not a
planishing hammer and what a mess he makes. I had one lady ask me to
replace a stone in one of these re- sized rings. Told her no can do
the bezel was not high enough to hold the stones and the amber was
the best quality Chinese plastic. Showed her to use a loupe and
showed her the crack in the band and all the dents from the wrong
hammer. She made his day and got her money back.
My friend Paul who has his silver and gold made by a precious metal
making family in Kashmir showed me one of his pieces the other day, a
druzy stone in sterling.
Quality yes! Cheap no! So while it seems that 99% of what comes out
of Asia is rubbish it is good to see the old families are still making
quality.
He like me is often asked why his chains are so expensive. We have
the same answer.
They are sterling silver and you cannot buy a 2 mm snake chain in
sterling for $8.
I met a guy learning silver jewellery making the other day who found
a guy selling these Chinese chains bought one and filed off the silver
plate went back and told him to take all his chains off display or
sell them as plated or go to jail. Not a happy day for the con man.
Had a similar thing happen to me told a lady selling the silver
plate as solid sterling, that they were only plated. “I buy them as
sterling and will sell them as such.” My question was “Would you like
to explain that to a police officer from the fraud squad?” “I think
you are very rude and go away.” she said to me.
Being a gentleman, one who never insults unintentionally, said “You
are a f*cking con artist who will go to jail if you keep doing this,
your choice.” She now sells silver plated chains.
Also had fun with a stall selling silver “Made by my husband.”
“Really? It does not have the Australian fineness mark and looks like
cheap rubbish from Asia to me.” The daughter said “My dad makes
this.” I replied “You are too young to lie to a silversmith and your
dad is an arehole." Mum said “You want to be careful he can get very
angry.” I said "No darling I am ex-military he does not want to start
sht with me. Do you and your daughter want to go to jail today? For
selling mis-represented country of origin product.” That wiped the
smile off these con artists faces. Have not been back to that market.
Also had fun with sellers of Alpaca silver, they do not like to be
told that it is illegal to imply it is silver. And to stop implying
it is or face jail.
How do I know it is rubbish from Asia? I have been working in
sterling for 25 years.
I have seen jewellery from Asia for 25 years some is quality most is
not.
The metal colour is not that of sterling.
The fineness stamp 925 in an oval is since 2008 is the one we use in
Australia.
If you do not stand up for the makers in quality silver you will
lose. One of my friends repairs Asian silver the only one I know who
will touch it. Charges $50 to start for a ring shank re-solder.
Always gets told “That’s more than I paid for it.” “Should have
bought quality in Australia.” is her reply.
The police in Australia are behind you. Recently Coles supermarket
was fined 2.5 million dollars for claiming their bread was wholly
baked and made in Australia. When it was not.
I don’t worry about these con artists impacting my business only the
un-educated believe their lies.
Since working in Argentium I find I have little competition from the
con artists. Argentium is instantly recognized as a superior silver.
I have my customers call by to say hello and show me how their
Argentium is is still shiny and tarnish free. Also those who said
they are allergic to sterling have no problem wearing Argentium.
Are you a silversmith in Australia? A and E metals will make ANY of
their metal shapes In Argentium minimum order 50 grams. You do pay a
premium for special orders but well worth it. My last order for 4 by 2
mm oval “comfort fit” wire was $1.36 a gram before GST. Not going to
break the bank is it? Well worth the money for such a quality
product. They also have the Argentium flying unicorn trademark stamp
and it is expensive $150 from memory but the customers love it. I
also stamp with the 925 in an oval to show it is made in Australia.
Can’t find a 935 stamp so use the 925 one.
Thinking of using Argentium? Read the instructions and you will find
it very easy to work.
don’t read the instructions and you will have problems. a & e have a
basic set of instructions on their web site. argentium international
have very detailed ones on their website, courtesy of cynthia eid.
follow the instructions and you will find argentium very easy to use
and you will produce a superior product than sterling.
argentium international also have a free tech support and if you
register with them also free you get access to really useful
promotional material.
I am just a satisfied user of Argentium I get nothing from these
companies for commenting about their product.
I am still waiting for my flying unicorn t shirt or coffee mug from
them LOL.
all the best
Richard