Step by step

  1. Purify the water. Start with deionised or distilled water with almost no dissolved minerals. Tap water contains chloride, which reacts with silver to form cloudy silver chloride.
  2. Set up the electrodes. Two electrodes of 99.99% fine silver hang in the water a set distance apart. Lower-purity silver can introduce other metals.
  3. Apply a low, steady current. A direct current passes between the electrodes. At the positive electrode (the anode), silver atoms lose electrons and enter the water as silver ions.
  4. Stir and wait. Gentle stirring spreads the silver evenly. The longer the run, the higher the concentration.
  5. Measure and finish. The batch is checked for concentration and clarity. Once it reaches the target, it is bottled in clean, dark glass.

Why deionised water matters

Silver reacts readily with chloride and other impurities. In ordinary water that produces silver compounds instead of a clean solution, which can show up as cloudiness, a grey tinge or sediment. Starting with water that has almost nothing dissolved in it means the only thing being added is silver. It also makes conductivity readings meaningful, because the silver is then the main thing conducting electricity.

Why low voltage and patience

Pushing more current through the water makes silver faster, but it tends to produce larger particles and a less even result. A low, controlled current takes longer and gives a more consistent product. That's why small-batch makers often run each batch for hours rather than minutes.

Other methods

  • High-voltage AC: uses arcing between electrodes. It's faster, but particle size is harder to control.
  • Chemical reduction: produces silver particles from a silver salt using a reducing agent. It allows high concentrations but can leave the agent or its by-products in the liquid.
  • Silver protein: silver particles are bound to a protein such as gelatin to keep them suspended.

How we make ours

We use low-voltage electrolysis, deionised water and 99.99% fine silver electrodes, in small batches in Yorkshire. Each batch is measured before it's bottled in violet glass and labelled with a batch number and date. Read our story.