reflections & finish

[sheepy]

I want to use reflections for my acid etch pendants. The pendants can't really be cleaned after manufacturer due to inclusions of seed pearls. An intrinsic part of the design is the matt whiteness you get from sterling. Will I still be able to build up a layer of fine silver on the surface of reflections silver?

Sarah

[mizgeorge]

In my experience, not really! I don't know what the exact difference is in the alloy, but it must include some germanium (or something similar) in the same way that Argentium does, and depletion gilding certainly doesn't work well for that.

I can get a pretty matte finish on reflections by pickling with alum and finishing with just a magnetic polisher, followed by a scratch brush, but that might not be at all what you're looking for!

[ps_bond]

Germanium -> no cupric oxide forming -> no depletion gilding.

[sheepy]

Thanks for the info, I didn't realise I've been practising depletion gilding until I looked it up! I think it's worth getting a piece of reflections to try out to see what it's like & I'll put a matt finish on.

Sarah