Croydon silversmith pioneers new metal3:20pm Saturday 13th December 2008
Comments (1)Richard, who designs trophies for Formula 1 and the Spirit of Ecstasy mascots for Rolls Royce, has been using Argentium for the past 10 years. He said that it was revolutionising the industry.
Pure silver is too soft for most uses, so it is mixed with copper to make it more durable.
However, when the copper comes in contact with air it oxidises, causing the silver to tarnish.
Argentium is an alloy of silver and germainium, which oxidises to protect the surface of the precious metal.
Not only does it contain more silver than sterling, with up to 97 per cent purity, but it is also tarnish-free and as hard as steel.
It is being used by jewellry companies like Tiffany & Co and rumour has it that Gucci and Cartier are keen to exploit the new alloy.
Richard has been using it for 10 years and is hoping to market it to Formula 1.
He has been designing trophies for them for 25 years.
He said: “The first trophy I designed was for Bernie Ecclestone.
“I was chosen to do it out of five other people, which was quite an honour.
“They liked my work and it snowballed from there.”
He is just about to ship a load of trophies, which each took three months to make, to Monaco for this year’s racing champions.
They are made out of sterling silver but in the future he hopes to make them in argentium.
He said: “Argentium is a whiter, brighter metal.
“It is environmentally friendly as well as it does not tarnish so there is no need to plate it.
“The silver plating process uses cyanide baths, so that process can be eliminated.”
His wife Serena, a jeweller, is designing a men’s range of jewellery in argentium which she will display at an exhibition in Earls Court early next year.
Both work out of their office which is based in Croydon. They moved to the borough from Kennington.
Richard said: “We live in south London and wanted to locate our business somewhere which had good connections into London, Croydon fit the bill.
“It is an underestimated borough, especially for businesses.
“We have prospered here. When I started out it was just me and a tool kit.
“Now we have six staff and so much equipment.
“I look around sometimes and am amazed at how far we have come.”
Croydon silversmith Richard Fox with a piece made from argentium
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