Silver jewelry is a great way to complement any outfit with grace and elegance, be it an evening dress or a formal pantsuit. But, unfortunately, over time, silver jewelry can lose its shine and iridescent color and become covered with the so-called patina (dark coating).
Why does silver on the human body darken? This happens due to chemical reactions between silver and skin. However, in addition to the strictly scientific explanation of this phenomenon, there are many signs indicating the reasons for the darkening of the metal.
Why does silver on the human body darken?
If your silver has turned black, yellowed or oxidized, it means it's time to have your jewelry cleaned. Additionally, a silver product can be plated with rhodium – it prevents the metal from blackening. So, let's figure out why silver turns green on the human body, why a favorite piece of jewelry can turn black or oxidize - both from a scientific and a layman's point of view.
Why does silver on the body turn black: the main reasons
As a rule, silver turns black from sweat. But in order to understand why patina appears on silver, you will have to delve a little deeper into chemistry.
Blackened silver rings
Silver in its pure form is a soft, malleable metal and practically unsuitable for making jewelry. Therefore, in the process of creating a new product, silver is mixed with harder metals - for example, copper. And copper reacts strongly with sulfur, which is contained in human sweat, and over time becomes covered with a patina.
If you see that the silver rings on someone's fingers have turned black, or the pendant on their neck has darkened, it is most likely due to the fact that the person often sweats and wears the jewelry without taking it off.
What does science say?
Modern science has its own opinion on this matter. It is more mundane and is determined by many factors. The opinions of scientists do not always coincide, but they agree on only one thing: silver darkens due to the sweat that the human body produces.
Sweat is a waste product from the body that contains sulfur. When it comes into contact with silver objects, it enters into a chemical reaction with the substance. That's why plaque appears.
In addition, scientists also say that silver can darken for the following reasons:
- diseases of internal organs;
- serious physical activity;
- various stresses;
- composition and quality characteristics of the alloy;
- changes associated with hormonal levels;
- air of high humidity.
All these reasons unconditionally affect the color of silver products.
Signs about darkened silver
In folk legends, silver has a special place - it protects against evil spirits, protects against the evil eye and plays a large role in magical rituals. Blackening of silver signs are explained in different ways. Everything is important here - the part of the body on which the jewelry was worn, the gender and age of the owner, and even the type of item.
So, if a silver chain with a pectoral cross turns black on your neck, signs will say that you have been damaged, or have been very strongly jinxed. If the silver chain on a child’s neck becomes dark, you should go to the priest as soon as possible and once again consecrate both the cross and the chain in order to protect the child from evil spirits.
A chain with a pectoral cross turned black on the neck
If silver turns black on a man’s body, it means that someone’s evil intent condemns him to the life of a bachelor. It’s the same with a young girl - if her silver jewelry suddenly turns black, it means she’s wearing the crown of celibacy.
Not only jewelry, but also household products can turn black. So, if the silverware turns black, then according to signs, evil spirits have appeared in the house. To get rid of uninvited neighbors, sprinkle the house with holy water and read a prayer.
Use of silver in the jewelry industry
The advantage of silver is its ease of processing. It is distinguished by plasticity and softness. Thanks to this, it becomes possible to produce a variety of products and create coatings. Features of the use of precious metal:
- a wide range of silver jewelry: they create rings, bracelets, earrings, chains, church and decorative crosses, the variety of jewelry models is due to the fact that this metal is easy to work with, you can give it a variety of shapes to improve the properties of pure Ag, alloys are added to the composition - additives, increasing hardness, thereby increasing the service life of jewelry;
- impurities and samples: silver is part of many alloys; it is used for various purposes, for example, to change the properties of platinum group metals, gold, to modify the composition to obtain a material of a lighter shade;
- popular standard: jewelry of several groups is most often produced (875, 925 and 960 samples), this means that 1000 g of the alloy contains a significant proportion of Ag (87.5%, 92.5% or 96%), the rest of the volume is the alloy, The fewer additives, the higher the value of jewelry; among the existing ones, 925 sterling items are especially in demand.
Silver popular standard 925
Wedding rings are most often made from the popular standard metal (925), it is distinguished by moderate hardness, but with frequent wear it is necessary to periodically restore the product, since the surface is damaged (an alloy with a low content of ligatures), it is necessary to ensure regular care of the jewelry.
What to do if the silver has turned black
Do not despair if the silver has become tarnished or darkened. Unfortunately, a similar fate awaits many jewelry made from this metal - especially those that we wear without taking them off. Even if your favorite piece of jewelry has become covered with patina, it will not be difficult to clean silver from blackness at home. Choose any convenient method:
Using lipstick
Oddly enough, ordinary lipstick is one of the best silver cleaners. It contains a lot of fat and titanium dioxide, which not only help clean silver from plaque, but also give the jewelry a beautiful shine.
Cleaning silver with lipstick
Apply lipstick to the jewelry, take a brush and rub the product until it squeaks. The decoration will brighten before your eyes! However, it is worth keeping in mind that this method is only good for smooth jewelry without precious stones.
Using soda
Every housewife has baking soda in her kitchen. So why not use it to save your favorite pendant or ring?
How to clean silver with baking soda
Boil water and add soda to it at the rate of 50 grams per liter. Wrap the decoration in foil and lower it into the boiling solution for 10-15 seconds. Then rinse and dry the product.
Using toothpaste
Toothpaste contains polishing (abrasive) microparticles that will help you remove the patina from your silver.
Clean silver jewelry with paste
Apply the paste to a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid damaging your jewelry when brushing. Polish the item, rinse it in cold water, and then dry it with a microfiber cloth.
Using egg yolk
Our ancestors used egg yolk long before there were lipsticks or toothpastes. The yolk will not only help clean the silver, but will also protect it from new plaque for a long time.
To clean your jewelry, soak a cotton pad in yolk and rub the surface of the piece. Let the yolk dry and then rinse it off with cold water.
With the help of ammonia
The most reliable way to clean jewelry is to treat silver with ammonia solution or ammonia.
How to use ammonia to clean silver
Pour a little ammonia into a jar and place the blackened product there. Leave for 10-15 minutes. After the procedure, rinse the jewelry with water and dry thoroughly.
Everyday reasons why a silver chain turns black
It happens strangely: you wear jewelry and rejoice in its beauty, and in the evening you notice dark marks on your neck - the silver chain has turned black. Many immediately begin to look for the cause in otherworldly forces and associate these phenomena with mysticism or even with the presence of energy vampires nearby. Others approach this problem more rationally and remember the chemistry lessons they took at school. From them it is known that jewelry is usually made from an alloy of silver and copper, and the latter, when it reacts, causes blackening (oxidation occurs).
Let's try to look at the real reasons for this process and look at ways to avoid it.
- Impurities.
The test that we can see on silver jewelry indicates how much pure metal the product contains. It is impossible to make a chain entirely from silver due to its softness, so it is necessary to add base inclusions to it. This is done to increase the strength and wear resistance of the product.
Most often, the choice falls on copper, which, unfortunately, when interacting with oxygen causes an oxidation process. If you notice that when worn, a silver chain begins to fade, oxidize or turn black, then know that the jewelry was not made to last, and there is very little precious metal there.
Experts at the Witch's Happiness store recommend:
Silver chain (snake weave) 925 sterling, length 45, 50, 55 cm
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Silver necklace “River Rapids Dragon” with garnet Necklace in Celtic patterned style
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Jewelers came up with an excellent solution: covering the product with rhodium film. This is done in order to temporarily protect it from negative external factors and avoid blackening. But the rhodium film gradually breaks down, and your jewelry begins to fade, and you see how the chain darkens again. If oxidation occurs extremely quickly, this means that the composition contains a low-quality metal.
Very often people complain that after wearing a silver chain they observe black marks on the neck from the reaction. If the skin has darkened, then this is an alarm bell. This means that the jewelry clearly contains nickel or zinc. These metals from the periodic table themselves are very good, they are excellent for alloying with silver. But they are harmful to the human body and can cause allergic reactions. This does not mean that you need to immediately get rid of your favorite chain. No, wear it for your health, but put it on over your clothes.
Articles recommended for reading:
- How to learn fire magic
- Magic amulets and their meaning
- Wiccan magic - the doctrine of the worship of the forces of nature
- Influence of water and air.
Who would have thought that air could be someone's enemy? How can it, if it's silver? When its ions come into contact with air particles, the metal can darken.
Silver itself has a fairly low oxidation rate when interacting with air and water. But as soon as divalent sulfur is connected here, a new element Ag2S is formed - silver sulfide, which is that black substance. Under proper storage conditions for jewelry, this compound occurs, but its formation requires a longer period of time. You can even see how the silver chain first faded a little and became covered with a gray coating, and then, over time, also turned black.
In addition, sulfide is contained not only in the air, but also in ordinary running water, so when the climate or place of residence changes, the jewelry may begin to oxidize. Subsequently, you will notice that the chain has turned black.
- The influence of human sweat.
Sweat directly affects the condition of your silver chain because it contains sulfur. The released skin secretion comes into contact with the metal, which leads to the formation of sulfide plaque, which we already mentioned above. If you have intense physical activity, jogging, swimming, or are sick, as a result of which you sweat more, it is better to remove your silver jewelry so that it does not turn black.
- Diseases.
If a person gets sick, but continues to wear a silver item, over time he may notice that the item has turned black or, conversely, become lighter. It all depends on what your body secretes with concomitant pathology. For example, your hormonal levels have changed (during pregnancy or menopause), your pH environment has changed, and the metal begins to oxidize. You will soon find that the chain has turned black. With kidney and liver diseases, the body begins to excrete nitrogen through the skin, and silver jewelry may become lighter.
The precious metal also turns black due to illnesses of viral etiology, malaria, and fever. If you begin to notice that after removing silver jewelry (a chain or ring), dark marks appear on certain areas of the skin, you should urgently seek advice from an endocrinologist.
Medical professionals are also of the opinion that if silver products leave black marks on your body at the points of contact with them, then most likely there is a malfunction in the body. In this case, it is recommended to pay attention to the functioning of the liver, kidneys and thyroid glands.
Pregnant women who wear silver jewelry during this wonderful period may notice dark traces of the metal as their hormonal levels change.
How to care for silver
To prevent silver from turning black, jewelers coat the product with rhodium. This material protects silver, which is susceptible to sulfur compounds, and helps it remain shiny.
Caring for silver jewelry
In addition, in order to protect the precious metal from patina, you should properly care for your silver jewelry - clean and polish it regularly, remove it when taking a shower or washing dishes, and do not play sports while wearing your jewelry.
Silver should be stored in a special box or case with soft upholstery. It is best to fold jewelry so that they do not touch each other - this way you will avoid scratches and chips.
Text author: Alexandra Tsiklauri
How to clean radiated metal
Argentum coated with rhodium has a very attractive appearance and dazzling shine. In order for a product to last for a long time, it must be stored correctly and properly care for its appearance. We will answer the question of how to clean radiated silver below.
All types of cleaning that are suitable for ordinary silver will not work. The rhodium plating has a thin layer that is very easy to damage or wear off. Therefore, cleaning methods should be gentle and gentle.
As a preventive measure, just warm water will do, under which you need to rinse the jewelry. To add shine, rubbing should only be done with soft cloths, fleece, velvet or suede.
Soap solution. For it you need to prepare soap shavings and dissolve them in warm water. Bathe your jewelry in this solution. You can use a cotton pad.
Glycerol. Wipe the decoration with glycerin and a cotton swab. Then polish with a soft cloth.
What do the signs say?
Previously, it was believed that silver protects against dark forces and the evil eye. It was applied to the wound to provide an antibacterial effect. It was assumed that the products had energetic properties.
Accordingly, if the metal darkens, they look for hidden reasons:
- Wearing jewelry on the chest. If pendants or chains change color, this is a sign of decreased energy. Blackening of a cross or a body icon is considered more dangerous. This means a strong energetic impact on a person.
- On the neck. Shorter chains can leave dark marks above the solar plexus and décolleté. In this case, an energetic impact is also assumed, but of lesser force.
- On fingers. Wearing silver jewelry without negative consequences symbolizes good luck in your personal life. If the metal darkens, it means that the girl has been crowned with celibacy, and the guy will have a bachelor life.
- On the wrist. The protection power of only the bracelets worn on the hands is assessed. By comparison, jewelry has long been worn on ankles to demonstrate wealth. If the bracelet on the wrist darkens or changes color, this means that magical power has taken place. But such decoration is a talisman. Accordingly, when silver turns black, it symbolizes a successfully repelled attack by a black magician.
Universal recipe for cleaning silver
When the first attempt fails to cope with the darkened product, you can use a more complex mixture. It helps to cope with both single stains and complete discoloration of the silver thread.
To prepare the miracle mixture, prepare:
- 1 tablespoon table salt;
- 1 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid;
- the same amount of table soda;
- 1 liter of water.
All of the above must be thoroughly mixed in a metal (preferably aluminum) container. Then put the product there and boil over low heat for 30 minutes. After this simple procedure, your silver chain will look like new.
Rhodium plated
Rhodium plating is a technology with which jewelry factories apply a thin layer of rhodium (thickness - only a few microns). Its chemical properties are similar to platinum.
This type of silver coating protects the item from darkening.
Advantages of this method:
- the decoration does not darken;
- ensures hardness (protects from damage due to careless use);
- adds a special shine to designer jewelry.
Disadvantage: some collectors of natural silver are not impressed by the shine inherent in rhodium plating. They perceive it as unnatural.
Explanation from a scientific point of view
There are a number of factors that influence the color of silver products:
- change in pH of the environment;
- oxidation upon contact with sulfur (sulfide deposits form);
- a combination of divalent sulfur with components in the air, which contributes to a change in the color of the metal during long-term storage.
The quality of the products is also taken into account. Perhaps the jewelry containing an excessive amount of nickel, zinc, copper has darkened; its price was probably low (low fineness). Items with more expensive additives (platinum, gold) retain their appearance best.
Oxidation
The products are treated with a special composition, in which the main ingredient is sulfur. Thanks to this treatment, unusual color transitions appear on the treated surface. The intensity of the polishing process determines the shade that the silver will acquire.
The jewelry, on which the thinnest film is applied, is polished. As a result, the convex parts become lighter, and the concave parts are visually perceived as dark. Oxidized silver does not require complex care. It is enough to moisten a cotton napkin with soapy water and wipe the product, and then dry it with a dry cloth.
Prevention of silver blackening
To ensure that silver jewelry remains in its original form and does not darken, the following measures must be observed:
- remove silver before physical activity: it increases sweating, causing the metal to darken;
- remove silver jewelry in a sauna, bathhouse and other places with high humidity;
- do not put on silver immediately after cleaning; a break is needed to form a natural protective layer;
- buy products with a purity of 925, in this case the copper admixture is minimal.
There are different opinions explaining the darkening of silver on the body. Some of them have a scientific basis, and some are associated with popular beliefs. In any case, silver can be cleaned in various ways. You can avoid blackening of the metal by following preventive measures.
