It’s the newest old metal: Modern Electrum’s developer, along with its jewelry partners, want to reintroduce the world to this non-tarnishing alloy that is as affordable as it is fashionable.
Italy-based metals company Legor is working with jewelry designers to show what Modern Electrum, its trademarked version of the ancient alloy electrum, can do. One of those designers, Chris Ploof, is debuting his first Modern Electrum collection this month and says the metal has the marketing might to become a major player within the jewelry world, as it is lightweight, durable, and malleable.
“It’s a magical material with a good story behind it,” Ploof says. “What’s exciting is we are at the forefront of talking to retailers about it, and when you watch their faces, you can see that excitement.”
On top of those attributes, Modern Electrum is more cost-effective than gold. The price of gold soared to all-time highs over the past year, and although the surge has mostly stopped during the Iran war, gold’s price rose Thursday to around $4,757 an ounce—from Wednesday’s close of $4,681.90—on news of possible talks to end the conflict.
Ploof says he is pricing his Modern Electrum pieces from $935 to $2,195, depending on whether they have diamonds. He is using Diamonds de Canada’s fluorescent stones in the collection.
“The diamonds from our Gahcho Kué mine in Canada naturally fluoresce,” explains Diamonds de Canada CEO Ben King. “Locals believe the phenomenon comes from the energy of the northern lights, which are directly above the mine. This adds even more value to [Ploof’s] new Modern Electrum collection.”
King had reached out to Legor with an interest in re-creating electrum for the contemporary era. In the ancient world, electrum sat next to gold and silver as an important metal, he says. The alloy of gold, silver, and other elements made electrum highly prized. It was used in buildings, coins, and jewelry—examples are found in museums worldwide. However, the Romans banned electrum coins in favor of gold, and it fell off in popularity.
When Legor’s scientists and metallurgists went to work on electrum, they found that the other elements within the alloy were platinum or platinum-group metals, including palladium, and came up with a proprietary blend for its Modern Electrum.
Legor, Diamonds de Canada, and Ploof plan to introduce the jewelry collection at trade shows and retailers this spring and summer, including JCK Las Vegas. Ploof says Modern Electrum was easy to work with in terms of setting diamonds, and he can see doing larger pieces beyond pendants and rings in the future.
“Modern Electrum machined wonderfully and did all of things I wanted it to do. As for color, some might read it as a white metal, but I think it also has a straw-colored tint to it,” he says.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” the designer adds. “It is a beautiful, quality product with a great legacy.”
Top: Chris Ploof’s new Modern Electrum collection, created in partnership with Legor and Diamonds de Canada. includes this $1,325 milgrain ring. (Photos courtesy of Chris Ploof)
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