Gold and Silver Alloys
Gold and silver have been considered luxurious and valuable materials since ancient times. Coins, jewelry and other items have been made with these metals in almost every culture around the world. To this day, they are still used to produce a variety of products due to their beauty, durability and malleability.
The use of gold and silver in alloys offers a variety of options for metalworking professionals. When the two metals are combined, an alloy is created that often has distinct advantages over pure gold or silver. These include improved strength and ductility, as well as improved color, depending on the elemental proportions used.
The oldest gold-silver alloy is known simply as electrum and is estimated to have been used as early as 4000 B.C. This alloy contains 60-90% gold and 10-30% silver and often also acquires a lighter colour due to traces of copper and iron. The primary purpose of this alloy was for use in coins and jewelry, as it was resistant to tarnishing and corrosion compared to pure gold or silver.
A more modern alloy, invented in the 1970s, known as white gold has become increasingly popular in jewelry making throughout the world. This alloy is an amalgam of either gold, palladium, silver, or platinum and nickel and it is ideal for use in rings, bracelets, and other fine jewelry items. When finished, it is an attractive metal that looks almost as white as silver, but has many of the same characteristics of gold.
Silver-copper alloys are also commonly used in jewelry production. This metal combination has an attractive bluish-white color that does not tarnish, sometimes referred to as Spanish silver. This alloy is used to produce coins, cufflinks, buttons and beads that are valued for their superior wear resistance. Silver-copper alloys come in a variety of combinations, usually ranging from 20-60% copper and 40-80% silver.
Gold and silver alloys have a long and interesting history, and their uses have evolved through the years. Whether for coins, jewelry, or any number of other uses, these precious metals offer an abundance of options and can be molded into any design imaginable. The distinct qualities and properties of these alloys make them highly sought after by metalworking professionals.
