Modern
Electrum™
The exclusive alloy inspired by ancient tradition and crafted with precious metals, for jewelry with a timeless aesthetic. Completely Nickel-free and Copper-free



A perfect synthesis of tradition, elegance, and modernity, Modern Electrum is an exclusive alloy composed of three precious metals – Gold, Silver, and Palladium – all RJC and CoC certified, and 100% sourced from certified recycled materials. The non-precious metals used in the formulation are also 100% recycled, ensuring a completely sustainable and traceable composition in every component, while delivering high performance both in production processes and in the alloy’s mechanical properties.
As its name suggests, Modern Electrum is designed as a modern reinterpretation of Electrum, the ancient Gold and Silver alloy highly valued by Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans for its timeless beauty.
The result of extensive R&D by Legor, Modern Electrum embodies the finest qualities of each element: Gold lends its ductility and signature rarity; Silver adds malleability and brilliance; and Palladium provides elasticity and oxidation resistance.
To fully enhance its aesthetic properties—and especially to ensure greater durability over time by increasing resistance to wear and oxidation—Legor has developed specific electroplating cycles for Modern Electrum that allow for the creation of jewelry in both White and Yellow finishes. These cycles are unique, use only precious metals, are REACH compliant, and completely free of nickel, cobalt, and cyanides.
From Ancient to Modern

The Birth of Modern Electrum™: The R&D Work of Legor Laboratories
Modern Electrum is the result of the fusion between Legor’s expertise in precious metal science and the exclusivity of the Diamonds De Canada brand, with the goal of creating a highly valuable alloy composed of precious metals, all strictly sourced from certified recycled materials.
Ancient Electrum was a naturally occurring alloy, a spontaneous combination of Gold and Silver found in mineral deposits and used without any advanced metallurgical knowledge. Goldsmiths of the time appreciated its beauty and ductility, but had no control over its composition or mechanical properties. Modern Electrum, by contrast, marks a radical shift: no longer a geological coincidence, but the outcome of a rigorous and highly controlled scientific process.
Thanks to the expertise of our in-house R&D lab, close interaction with the client, and careful attention to their needs, a significant research and development effort was launched. This involved hypothesizing and subsequently testing multiple possible formulations.
The challenge? To create a precious alloy that combined the historical elegance of Electrum with the demands of modern jewelry-making — developing a formulation similar to the original, capable of incorporating three precious metals and delivering high performance at a controlled cost, while also making replicable what would otherwise be impossible in nature. This required constant dedication to measurements and analysis, as well as a strong focus on the functionality of the alloy, predicting its behavior once introduced to the market for the production of exclusive jewelry and accessories.
This work, known as “characterization,” involved combining our expertise in metal transformation with in-depth knowledge of scientific literature. Modern Electrum is thus the result of expertise, innovation, and customer care — perfectly aligned with Legor’s core values.

TARNISH
RESISTANCE
Both accelerated tests and live trials have shown that the Modern Electrum™ formulation has significantly outperformed all 375 gold alloys (9kt) it was compared with, in terms of overall tarnish resistance.

PRODUCTION
PROCESSES
Modern Electrum™ has proven suitable for jewelry manufacturing using investment casting in closed systems, as well as for the production of semi-finished products such as sheet, wire, tube, and machine-made chain, using both static and continuous casting techniques.

HARDNESS
Although the as-cast hardness of Modern Electrum™ is 55 HV, this alloy was selected for its strong potential in terms of age hardening. Hardening can be achieved through a single heat treatment at 450 °C for 45 minutes, allowing the hardness to reach up to 115 HV— a value that meets the majority of jewelry application requirements.

PATENT
Modern Electrum™ is the evolution of an R&D project that led to highly successful, patented alloys.
Main features
-
Made with precious and non precious metals 100% from recycled sources
-
High resistance to oxidation
-
Harmonious balance between luxury and environmental responsibility
-
High technology in the alloy production process
-
Durability and legacy, a fusion of tradition and innovation
Modern Electrum™, as the name suggests, is a modern reinterpretation—made possible by innovative technologies—of the ancient "Electrum," a highly regarded alloy in Egyptian, Greek, and Roman times, known for its timeless aesthetic. Electrum occurred naturally and was also refined, consisting primarily of Gold and Silver, but sometimes containing traces of Platinum, Palladium, Copper, and other metals.
Modern Electrum™ inherits its technical characteristics from the precious metals that compose it. Each element brings its own inherent properties: Gold gives ductility and its distinctive rarity; Silver adds malleability and brilliance; Palladium contributes elasticity and resistance to oxidation.
Modern Electrum™ was born from the union of Legor’s expertise in precious metal science and the exclusivity of the Diamonds De Canada brand, with the goal of creating an exclusive alloy made of three precious metals, all 100% sourced from certified recycled materials. Through intensive R&D efforts at Legor, multiple formulations were studied and tested, taking into account both material value and desired performance.
The color of Modern Electrum™ in its natural state is white with a slight yellowish tinge. This unique color is what the Greeks and Romans described as pale Gold and white gold.
Electrum is a natural occurring precious metal that is a combination of silver, gold and can contain the platinum group of metals. The amount of gold in electrum can be as high as 70-90% gold in Western Anatolia, to less than 1% gold at the closed Iderado Mine in Colorado. What makes Electrum unique is the natural blend of Gold, Silver and the Platinum Group of Metals. Legor has a dedicated research team that has analyzed the composition of natural electrum as well as ancient coins and then applied advance technology to bring Modern Electrum™ to market.
Modern Electrum™ is available in a white-colored alloy formulation suitable for various production processes, including plastic deformation and investment casting, always ensuring excellent performance.
Using three different precious metals allows the creation of alloys that are highly resistant to corrosion and wear over time, while also maintaining a significantly lower price point compared to traditional precious metal alloys.
Modern Electrum™ consists of 94.2% precious metals (91% Silver, 2% Gold, 1.2% Palladium) and 5.8% non-precious metals. All materials are sourced 100% from recycled sources.
Modern Electrum™ is designed as a high-performance alloy primarily composed of Silver; it can be hallmarked as 800 AG, as its precious metal content is higher than 800 but lower than 925 parts per thousand, in compliance with precious metal regulations.
Modern Electrum™ is designed for superior durability and resistance. Thanks to the inclusion of Palladium and absence of Copper, it offers excellent oxidation resistance. Combined with Gold, Platinum group metals, and other trace non-precious alloys, it doubles the hardness—after proper heat treatment—compared to traditional Sterling Silver. To enhance its visual and functional qualities even further, Legor has developed dedicated electroplating cycles that are unique, use only precious metals, are REACH compliant, and entirely free of nickel, cobalt, and cyanides.
Yes, Legor has developed dedicated electroplating cycles specifically for Modern Electrum™ that enhance the alloy’s resistance to tarnishing and abrasion.
These cycles enhance Modern Electrum™’s uniqueness while preserving its sustainable core. They use only precious metals, are REACH compliant, and entirely free of nickel, cobalt, and cyanides.
With the dedicated electroplating cycles, Modern Electrum™ jewelry can achieve White and Yellow
The precious metals used in Modern Electrum™ are 100% recycled and RJC CoC certified. This in no way compromises the alloy’s quality or properties. Legor ensures that the recycling process maintains metal integrity and purity, meeting the highest quality standards.
Modern Electrum™ performs excellently across all major jewelry production processes, including investment casting, sheet, wire, and tube processing. This allows full use of current production technologies, including the creation of lightweight, intricate designs or pieces that highlight surface finishes.
The final price of Modern Electrum™ alloys depends on market rates of the metals it contains. However, the total value remains lower than that of traditional gold-based precious alloys.
Following an in-depth R&D project at Legor, several formulations were defined and benchmarked against market expectations. Partner companies tested the alloy for ease of use and consistency, enabling the product line's launch. Each batch undergoes quality control to verify composition and precious metal content, ensuring consistent performance and outstanding results.
Thanks to the meticulous work of Legor’s Plating R&D labs, the electroplating cycles for Modern Electrum™ have passed some of the most recognized tarnish and abrasion resistance tests, including the Cross-hatch test, artificial sweat test, TAA test (sulfur environment), and chlorine resistance tests.
Ask for more information about Modern Electrum™
— WORK
WITH US
We believe sharing knowledge is key to building lasting relationships and ensuring mutual growth. | Contact us |