Caring for silver: how to choose, store and care for items.
Silver jewelry belongs to luxury jewelry, and sometimes to jewelry. In addition, silver is used to make dishes and cutlery. This metal has numerous characteristics, is suitable for almost everyone (unlike gold, it does not cause allergies), and what is no less pleasant is that in most cases it is a budget option.
In this article we will tell you how to select, store, care for and clean your silver so that it brings joy not only for many years, but also for several generations.
Why does silver turn black?
Silver is a soft metal, therefore pure silver is not used in the manufacture of products, but only with impurities. The sample number shows the amount of pure silver in the product, and for strength, copper and other strong but base metals are added to the alloy, which are responsible for the strength and wear resistance of the product.
Blackened silver item from prolonged contact with air
The first “enemy” of silver is air, when touched, silver turns black. The second can be considered moisture, and especially human sweat. If a person sweats heavily, then silver chains and bracelets need to be cleaned almost every week.
But if silver turns black only in one area of the body, for example, only rings or only chains on the neck, then this is the first signal to contact an endocrinologist, who will examine, select and prescribe an appropriate course of treatment.
“Treasure chests” are one of the wrong ways to store silver items
There are superstitions that if jewelry darkens or turns black, this means serious illness or even the evil eye and damage. But in fact, in most cases, it all depends on sweating, the use of certain cosmetics (creams, lotions, etc.), as well as on the sample and quality of the silver jewelry. Therefore, you should not worry that the silver has begun to darken; it is better to clean it regularly and safely.
Prevention of darkening
In order to avoid having to persistently search for an answer to the question: “Why does silver darken?”, it is important to follow some recommendations:
- Wear the chain on a clean body without applying cosmetics to it . They can provoke and activate the occurrence of oxidation processes. We are talking not only about foundation correctors, but also regular moisturizing creams or products intended for everyday skin care.
- The same applies to various , etc.
- Remove jewelry during sports training, heavy loads, or in extreme heat, as sweating increases in such conditions.
- Avoid contact with water (remove when swimming in the shower, pool, sea or river).
- It is advisable not to wear a silver chain in places located near heavy industrial facilities.
- Protect the metal from contact with fuel oil, gasoline, and diesel fuel.
You may be interested in: Silver: chemical and physical properties, scope of application
Darkening of a silver chain should not be a reason to get rid of the jewelry. There are many ways to return a product to its original shine.
A silver chain has turned black: how to choose, store, clean and care for silver?
Jewelry made from silver is very affordable, but there are also budget options, made from samples from 750 to 875. Such items will probably quickly darken, no matter how carefully you treat them. But there are exceptions - rhodium-plated ones. In such cases, care will be completely separate, but the products do not darken when worn, are easy to care for and durable.
If you want the jewelry to be worn for a long time and bring only pleasant emotions, choose 925 standard. For silverware, opt for 875 or 830 sterling silver.
Also, when choosing a silver product, you should pay attention to the country of origin. Domestic manufacturers, as well as European brands, have proven themselves well. Some Chinese and Turkish jewelry houses also provide quality items, but the market is mostly filled with low-quality jewelry.
Cleaning silver chains, crosses, rings and earrings
Now regarding the storage of silver items . Make it a rule that you need separate boxes to store gold, silver and jewelry. Moreover, if jewelry can be stored on stands, then it is recommended to store silver in tightly closed boxes, where there is a minimum supply of fresh air (a natural oxidizer of silver).
Also, silver, when in contact with gold, negatively affects each other, and silver is no less negatively affected by contact with metal jewelry.
One of the options for professional silver care at home is silver cleaning wipes.
Silver is not particularly picky when it comes to care, but only if it is cared for properly from the first days. The Internet is filled with a lot of advice on how to clean silver using improvised means, but as jewelers say:
- Soda and abrasive toothpaste, as well as powder, cause micro scratches on the jewelry, spoiling the appearance of the product and adding surface area for oxidation in the future. Also, if the product contains stones, they may fade;
- Vinegar, vodka, alcohol are a sure way to make the product porous and unsightly;
- Detergents, bleaches, powders are an excellent opportunity to hopelessly ruin the smoothness of the surface of the product and cloud the stone, and in some cases it may even crack.
The only unprofessional remedy that jewelers do not prohibit is dry mustard. In order to clean a silver item, you will need a washcloth or a soft old toothbrush, a little water and dry mustard. Dilute to a paste and rub the product thoroughly, let stand for 10 minutes and rub again. Rinse under water and polish with felt or felt.
One of the options for professional silver care at home is silver polish.
If you have previously unsuccessfully cleaned silver and there are a lot of tiny scratches on the product, this does not mean that it urgently needs to be taken to be melted down. You can probably buy goyi paste at a hardware store. Working with it is very simple:
- Thoroughly clean the product with ordinary soapy water, and then rinse under running water;
- Take a piece of felt or felt or several layers of lint-free cloth and apply a little paste to it;
- Distribute over part of the product and begin polishing: forward, backward, left and right, in a circle.
Don’t expect instant results; sometimes it will take up to an hour to restore a neglected product, but you will certainly be pleased with the result. Important: avoid getting the paste on the stones.
But for those who have never cleaned silver, we recommend using one of the following products:
- Wet wipes for cleaning silver . Sold in jewelry stores, workshops, etc. To clean, simply unpack the napkin and wipe the product thoroughly. After this, rinse with water and wipe dry with a cotton cloth;
- Professional polishes for cleaning silver. They are sold in the same jewelry stores and do not cause any problems in use. Apply to a lint-free cloth and rub the product until perfect. We wash off the chemicals under running water and dry with cotton.
Silver and chemistry
Human sweat contains sulfur. And silver contains impurities, including copper, which is oxidized under the influence of sulfur. Silver itself cannot oxidize; it is corrosion resistant and belongs to the noble metals. Therefore, a surface coating appears on the product - silver sulfide in the form of black crystals. The denser the plaque becomes, the darker the silver. There are many sweat glands on a person’s chest and neck, which is why chains and crosses most often become victims of oxidation and acquire a dark color. Especially those products that have a smooth surface and fit tightly to the skin, forming maximum contact. This explains the darkening of the pendant, for example, only on one side where it touches your body. Also, friction against clothing can cause mechanical damage, causing the silver to turn black.
Hydrogen sulfide is also contained in the environment, and the higher its concentration, the faster the darkening process will occur. If there is high humidity, this may also be the reason why your silver has turned black.
It should be noted that the lower the silver standard, the faster it turns black under unfavorable conditions.
When choosing jewelry, give preference to products with 925 purity rather than 875 or even lower, thereby reducing the risk of darkening. It is impossible to make jewelry from the purest 999 silver, there are practically no impurities in it, but it is very brittle and fragile.
Rhodium silver turns black: safe cleaning methods, tips with photos
Plating silver with rhodium, or simply rhodium plating, protects silver from oxidation and blackening, deformation, and also gives the product a purer, whiter shine. Rhodium-plated jewelry has gained considerable popularity in recent years and has become a worthy competitor to gold.
An important point is that rhodium plating is thin and requires careful care, since abrasive particles can remove the rhodium-plated layer and expose the silver to oxidation. It is no longer possible to “save” such a product, only to re-plate it with rhodium at the jeweler.
Gentle cleaning of rhodium-plated silver is the best way to extend the life of your jewelry
Please note that rhodium plated silver may become stained or darkened, but not blackened. If such a product has darkened, you can clean it in two ways:
- Regular light cleaning should be carried out using ordinary damp, lint-free wipes, followed by polishing with felt;
- To thoroughly clean the product, you need polish or wipes for cleaning silver products.
If the silver has turned black because it has been left for a long time without being worn, you can clean it using the above methods. If such methods do not work, then the product is damaged and the rhodium layer has been removed. Take your piece to a jeweler to have it re-plated with rhodium.
In this article, we do not present traditional methods for cleaning silver, since they not only clean the jewelry poorly, but also spoil it. Take care of your silver items carefully and professionally, and they will serve you for many years!
Silver oxidation
It is not for nothing that the strongest amulets for health and active talismans for good luck in business are made from silver, because unlike gold, silver does not take away, but absorbs a person’s energy.
Oxidation of silver is the first “bell” that not all is well with a person’s physical and mental health. If someone from the outside unexpectedly asks you a question why a silver chain, cross or bracelet has turned black, then you need to quickly check your health: first of all, the liver, kidneys, as well as hormonal balance and metabolism.
In all magical practices, it is silver objects that are a mandatory attribute of powerful rituals on the Full Moon and New Moon, since they are able to “remember” a spell or conspiracy cast over them.
Cleaning jewelry at home
But what to do if the chain with a cross or the ring has already darkened? The answer is very simple: they need to be cleaned. At first glance, it may seem to an inexperienced person that cleaning silver jewelry is a difficult task. In fact, there is nothing complicated about it. It is enough to know a few simple rules.
Remember that it is better not to try to clean jewelry with amber, pearls or coral yourself. They are very easily damaged by acids, alkalis and other chemical solutions. If you have items with finishing made from these capricious materials, then it is wiser to entrust the cleaning to a jeweler who has the appropriate knowledge and experience.
You should not try to clean jewelry with precious or semi-precious stones yourself, otherwise you risk damaging the crystals. In this case, it is also better to contact a workshop.
If your matte silver has darkened, do not try to fix the problem with abrasive materials - soda, salt or cleaning powders. As a rule, soap shavings dissolved in warm water or ordinary dishwashing liquid are enough to remove dirt from such products.
The easiest method for cleaning silver items at home is to use special liquids that are sold in stores that sell household chemicals. When purchasing such a solution, make sure that it is marked “for silver jewelry,” since a product intended for cutlery may not be suitable. Before using the solution, be sure to read the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Take all necessary safety measures: wear rubber gloves, goggles and a mask if the composition contains aggressive substances. As a rule, for effective cleaning it is enough to simply wipe the jewelry with a soft cloth soaked in a solution, and then rinse the product.
A composition that can be prepared at home is very effective for removing darkening. To prepare it, take toothpaste or powder, baking soda and a few drops of ammonia in equal proportions. All components are mixed and the mixture is applied to the product using a toothbrush. But don't use this method too often because the toothpaste can cause microcracks in the metal. And they can lead to irreparable damage to the jewelry.
Another equally good way is to use shavings of laundry soap dissolved in water with the addition of a few drops of ammonia. This solution must be brought to a boil, but not boiled. Then the silver items are treated with a cooled product. Be careful when heating the solution! Vapors from ammonia are poisonous.
Changes in the appearance of the product due to the health status of the owner
The fact is that jewelry made from silver also contains copper. It is this that oxidizes, coloring the chain dark. And scientists consider human sweat to be the main cause of oxidation. In addition to salts, it contains quite aggressive compounds. In particular, amino acids contain sulfur. It is sulfur-containing compounds that are responsible for the jewelry turning black. They form a silver sulfide film that covers the jewelry. That is, it is not the silver itself that darkens. It's just that dirt appears on its surface.
For some people, all silver jewelry tarnishes, regardless of what part of the body it is located on. Increased sweating can be caused by physical activity, changes in body temperature, and even changes in air temperature.
If only a chain with a cross or a ring has darkened, then this is a reason to visit an endocrinologist.
Because increased sebum secretion can occur under the influence of hormonal changes. Why does the pectoral cross most often turn black in pregnant women? The largest number of sebaceous glands are located in the armpits and on the chest. And the expectant mother experiences a real hormonal storm in her body. Naturally, sweat is released more strongly, and there are more aggressive substances in it.
But the reason for the darkening of a silver item may also lie in a serious illness. Some experts believe that such a change in the appearance of jewelry may indicate kidney and liver diseases. But there is no scientific evidence for this theory yet. Therefore, an unscheduled visit to the doctor will not be an unnecessary precaution.
Reasons why silver darkens
There are many versions of what can cause an alloy to darken. Popular beliefs say that blackened silver is a sign of trouble. Someone could damage or put the evil eye on a person. And as soon as the damage loses its power, the natural color will return. The story tells of the secret power of this alloy, which protects from harm and takes the full blow upon itself. Medicine, in turn, says that the reason lies in human health, and the darkening occurs through certain chemical processes interacting with bacteria. Science sees the reason in the presence of sulfur, from which silver comes into contact. Let's take a closer look at the real reasons why silver darkens.
Superstitions
If the cross on the neck has darkened, it means someone has caused damage or a curse. The stronger the darkening, the more powerful the spells. You need to monitor the color of the decoration, as soon as it becomes natural, everything falls into place and the damage is removed. According to legend, you can feel how life loses its colors, everything becomes gray and ordinary. Someone's presence is felt for no reason. Silver items take the blow and protect their owner, which is why they turn black. Under such circumstances, the question of how to bleach silver is not even close.
Before all that has been said, it should be added that a person who experiences such symptoms is most likely depressed. There is no need for silver here, it’s just a coincidence. Metal doesn't care what anyone thinks about its owner. And all the stories that for some reason our people still believe in come from paganism. People still can't refuse. And this despite the fact that everyone goes to church and considers themselves Christians. It's a pity when faith in superstitions is stronger than in God.
Health problems
This reason can be attributed to folk knowledge. The bottom line is this: darkened silver indicates poor health. This symptom was noticed a long time ago, and partly the disease may actually be related. The bottom line is that the body constantly produces sweat. In winter it is practically invisible, but in summer there is a lot of it. During illness, sweating increases significantly, especially when the temperature rises. Sweat contains particles of sulfur, which when in contact with silver causes blackening. This is not mysticism, but an ordinary chemical process.
One might think, if sweat is constantly released, why did the silver cross turn black on the body during illness? The reason is that during this period there is profuse sweating. On other days it also affects, but more slowly, so the darkening occurs gradually. Does this mean that the body is to blame? No, sulfur and oxygen are more likely to blame.
The science
In fact, the reasons for the darkening of silver are understandable and do not contain any mysticism. Under the influence of oxygen, the metal enters into a chemical reaction with sulfur-containing compounds. This process is also called oxidation. The color of the surface changes due to the dark layer of silver sulfide formed as a result of the reactions.
Products can darken not only on humans. Hydrogen sulfide is often found in the air itself. But the most common cause is interaction with sweat.
