Silver Buttercup Earrings
I choose Argentium silver because it is resistant to tarnish, it’s hypoallergenic, and it’s made with reclaimed silver. Buttercups are amazing spring flowers, and I took their inspiration for these earrings. They begin as 5/8” 22-gauge disks. I file five slots into the edges, then hammer a curve into the petals. I solder a bezel cup onto the middle and flip it over to solder a post on the back. After a few hours in the tumbler, I set a 5 mm stone and give them a final polish. We include a large Argentium silver nut to keep the flowers pointing out instead of down. They only weigh 1.1 grams each, and measure 0.6” (16 mm) wide. I cut silver blanks to make these, and use the same process each time, but please allow for slight variations. I promise the same quality and finish with each pair. The following description of Argentium Silver is courtesy of Rio Grande: Made with a touch of germanium, Argentium® Silver presents a bright white color that is closer to fine silver than traditional sterling, yet is highly resistant to firescale and less likely to tarnish under most conditions. It welds flawlessly and is ideal for fusing techniques. All Argentium is made from reclaimed silver and its sources are guaranteed by Argentium International Ltd. Your customers will appreciate the value and convenience of brighter-white sterling silver designs that resist tarnishing and keep on shining.