Or you could start using Argentium Sterling Silver [which was not invented when these fellows got into silversmithing], but many 'older' jewelers who have tried Argentium have 'converted' to Argentium and say they wish it had been around 30 years ago when they started.
They love that it fuses beautifully and easily [so NO solder to slide around and no solder to clean off], also it doesn't get firescale [huge bonus for many] and it is VERY HIGHLY TARNISH RESISTANT because if the fact that it also contains germanium. I'd say tarnish proof, but that's not what the Argentium people say so I'll back off.
It's more ductile, can be worked longer [for forging etc.] between annealing, but when heat hardened it's way harder than regular sterling. It's whiter than sterling, balls into a gorgeous mercury like ball, and takes a patina beautifully and evenly.
For more info check it out
http://www.argentiumsilver.com/
