For over a century, sterling silver has been the default. The industry standard. The "good enough." But good enough was never meant to touch your skin every day, never meant to become part of your personal ritual.
The Difference
Purity That You Can Feel
Sterling silver contains 92.5% pure silver, alloyed with copper to add strength. It's a formula unchanged since the 12th century. Argentium 960 rewrites this equation entirely—96% pure silver, alloyed with germanium instead of copper.
That 3.5% difference might seem small on paper. On your wrist, against your collarbone, it's everything.
Sterling Silver | Argentium
.925 | .960
92.5% Pure Silver | 96% Pure Silver
The Science
Why Germanium Changes Everything
Copper is what makes sterling silver tarnish. It reacts with sulfur in the air, on your skin, in your environment—creating that dull, dark film that requires constant polishing. It's not a flaw in how you care for your jewelry. It's a flaw in the material itself.
Germanium forms an invisible oxide layer that actively protects the silver beneath. Tarnish resistance isn't a coating that wears off. It's built into the molecular structure of the metal.
The Benefits
What This Means For You
Store it anywhere. Wear it everywhere. No polishing cloths, no special pouches, no anxiety about humidity or air exposure.
Higher silver content means more light reflection. Argentium has a naturally brighter, cooler tone that photographs beautifully and catches the eye.
No nickel. Reduced copper. Gentler on sensitive skin, suitable for extended wear without irritation.
"The best jewelry is the kind you never have to think about—The Reya Philosophy
until someone asks where you got it."
The Choice
Why We Use Only Argentium
Every Reya charm is crafted in Argentium 960. Not because it's easier for us—it's actually more expensive and requires specialized techniques. We choose it because jewelry should enhance your life, not complicate it.
Our micro-design charms are meant to be worn daily, layered personally, collected over time. They're meant to become part of your story. That story shouldn't include tarnish, discoloration, or constant maintenance.
When you choose Argentium, you choose jewelry that keeps up with your life. That stays luminous through workdays and weekends, through seasons and years. That looks as intentional on day one thousand as it did on day one.
The Bottom Line
Sterling Is Standard.
You Are Not.
There's a reason every industry has its premium tier. A reason we reach for better when something matters. Your jewelry sits against your skin. It moves with your hands. It's seen in every meeting, every moment.
It deserves to be exceptional.