Professional Custom Flutes

Argentium™ Sterling Silver

Every once in a while, even simple things get reinvented. For 2005, we are glad to bring to the flute community an unprecedented new alloy of silver called Argentium™ Sterling Silver. Developed by the accomplished English silversmith and researcher Peter Johns, Argentium is essentially a high-grade sterling alloy with trace (>1%) quantities of Germanium deployed into the metal. Germanium is a rare metalloid which, when alloyed with Silver in percentages displacing some of the copper in the standard Sterling alloy, lends some very unique qualities to the finished metal which make it extremely desirable for flute construction.

::Official Argentium™ Sterling Silver Website

1. Argentium is highly tarnish-resistant. While no claims of absolute tarnish-resistance are made by the manufacturer, technicians have had extreme difficulty in getting any of this material to tarnish, even in the presence of exacerbating chemicals (CATRA report with interesting pictures now online!). This is of obvious benefit for maintaining the "like new" finish on a flute; that shiny-fresh polish will never depart from the material, either. Argentium is self-healing in this regard; the Germanium atoms migrate through the silver to the surface in the case of a scratch or abrasion and ensuring that even the scratched section remains tarnish-free.

2. Your acoustic secret weapon: Argentium can be hardened for greater projection. Everyday Sterling Silver has a constant hardness which cannot be changed other than by altering the alloy. Argentium, however, can be thermally conditioned through a process of "precipitation hardening", where through a gradual raising then lowering of the temperature in an oven the tensile strength of the alloy can be increased to almost twice that of everyday Sterling. As can be imagined by those who have played our Titanium head joints, the results we have had with hardened Argentium head joint tubes have been astounding. The projection and power of the sound rivals Titanium while retaining all of the modesty and traditional sweetness of Sterling. Since the alloy is mostly the same, the timbre remains constant while the increased hardness of the tube turbocharges the potential for concert-hall-spanning projection.

Increased hardness also will be a draw for pro-level players who have always hankered for the shining, gorgeous tone of an old, age-hardened Louis Lot or similar antique flute, but who never purchased one due to finances or very understandable concerns about the keywork mechanic. Over time, silver will (like most metals) slowly harden, for this reason old flutes are sometimes sought after by certain players. The same folks that might appreciate a Louis Lot tone will find the properties of Argentium highly attractive, as the precipitation hardening gives the same sonic persona as an antique flute... without the hassles typical of trying to play or refurbish an antique.

3. Argentium has increased resistance to dents, scratches & abrasion. For hard-traveling professionals expecting to get a long-lasting surface finish on their critical instrument, Argentium offers something like an invisible "armor" against the inevitable wear and tear that all flutes suffer with time. Surface digs, jewelry scratches, scrapes - these can be reduced somewhat by using Argentium.

4. Argentium is good for the environment. In the process of casting, soldering and resoldering the scores of parts on the flute, harsh chemicals such as alkaline salts, aggressive fluxes and similar compounds must be used to prevent everyday Sterling silver from developing "fire scale", a hyperactive kind of tarnishing that occurs at high temperatures. With Argentium, the need for such chemicals is greatly diminished; the material can be soldered and cast beautifully with a minimum of environmental impact.

So who is using Argentium? Presently, Landell Flutes is representing the flute industry to an international consortium of metallurgists and industry professionals who are interested in promoting the use of this metal to the world. Within the coming months, the breaking wave of publicity about Argentium should reach the United States markets (the jewelry market has been at it for some time to date) and flutists should gradually become more aware of the material. Landell Flutes has chosen not to reserve an exclusive contract to the material and is actively attempting to promote the free and open transfer of information regarding this amazing alloy to the rest of the flute/flutemaking community

Feel free to email us wwith any questions.
Are you a flutemaker looking for information? Email Jon Sr. directly.

Resources and Links
::Official Argentium™ Sterling Silver Website
Argentium wins 2004 AJM Innovation Award
Argentium as Weldable Silver Alloy (techncial)
Clearinghouse Argentium Info Website
"How Silver Was Meant To Be" - Silver User's Assoc. Press Release