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.
Reasons for color change
If the silver on the body has darkened, there can be many reasons. This phenomenon has both a scientific chemical explanation and observations of ordinary people, confirmed over decades. And, by the way, in some moments they coincide.
There are beliefs that if silver on the body turns black, the reason is a negative impact on the owner of the jewelry. It can be expressed as follows :
- evil eye;
- damage;
- approaching problems and misfortunes;
- deterioration of human health.
It is believed that products made from this noble metal are able to react to negative energy directed at their owner.
The product partially neutralizes negative energy, causing it to darken. By changing color, it signals an impact on the owner. Moreover, the stronger the color change, the more powerful the effect on the person. As soon as the influence of the evil eye or the effect of damage is neutralized, silver jewelry should also suddenly brighten.
Health problems of the owner are also the reason for the darkening of silver items. People have noticed this pattern for a long time. And out of ignorance they explained everything again with mystical reasons. In fact, changes in health or hormonal levels can cause darkening of silver body jewelry. And there are legitimate reasons for this.
Scientific explanation
The scientific reasons for the discoloration of silver items are simple. As a noble metal, silver is not oxidized by oxygen in air and does not corrode, but nevertheless, under certain conditions, it interacts with some substances, albeit slowly.
The interaction of silver with sulfur-containing compounds leads to the formation of silver sulfide plaque. This effect can occur, for example, when interacting with hydrogen sulfide. It can be found both in the air and on human skin.
Changes in color of the product may be caused by interaction with air and other alloy ingredients. In addition to the silver itself, the alloy used to make jewelry usually contains copper.
The need for this additive is explained by the fact that silver is too soft a metal, and it is not possible to use it in its pure form for the production of jewelry and household items.
Depending on the standard of silver, the percentage of copper can be from 4 to 20. For the production of silver cutlery, an alloy with a higher mass fraction of copper is used, since these items require greater rigidity.
Copper is a metal with high corrosion resistance and in an atmosphere of dry air, products containing it will not change their color. However, the presence of hydrogen sulfide, ammonia or acid impurities in humid air leads, as a result of chemical interactions, to the formation of plaque.
Owners of silver items may notice that for some reason the silver can turn black quite quickly. This is due to the fact that some external conditions can accelerate the reaction of silver and copper with hydrogen sulfide and other substances.
This is how, for example, salty sea water acts, increasing the rate of corrosion reactions of copper. In addition, the impact may be :
- prolonged exposure to humid air;
- excessive sweating (due to illness, stress, physical activity, etc.);
- hormonal and other changes in the body that can cause deviations in the composition of skin secretions.
There are times when silver jewelry suddenly becomes lighter. This also has nothing to do with any mystical reasons. This happens due to the interaction of the metal with nitrogen-containing compounds, which can also be released onto the surface of the human body through sweat.
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.
Silver selection
There are silver products that are not subject to the formation of dark plaque. They have a thin layer of another metal (rhodium) applied on top of the silver.
This substance is most similar in appearance to silver, so the presence of a coating will not change the appearance of the jewelry in any way. But rhodium is much more resistant to external influences.
Unless a special coating is applied to the jewelry, any real silver will darken . Which product should I buy to reduce the number of problems with plaque formation? It is worth focusing on the alloy sample. The higher the standard, the slower the decoration will become covered with a black coating.
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.
Cleaning silver - common methods
First of all, you need to contact a jeweler, since self-cleaning with products containing abrasives can lead to damage to the product. This especially applies to blackened silver, which will simply peel off and completely lose its attractive appearance.
- Every jewelry store will suggest and offer products that will act gently and carefully on your jewelry. If the silver is matte, then it is better to immediately turn to professionals.
- There are also folk remedies that have been known for a long time, and really help to put silver in order. The most famous is tooth powder or paste. The product is applied to a toothbrush or to a napkin. Then the product is rubbed and left for some time. Then you need to rinse everything off and wipe dry with a towel.
- A solution of salt or soda or ammonia can be very useful for cleaning. It is enough to lower the products for a short period of time.
- But it is not advisable to use citric acid, especially if the jewelry has a precious stone. After treatment with citric acid, stones such as amber, pearls or coral may lose their attractiveness and shine.
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
Terms of use
Having understood in detail the reasons why silver turns black on the human body, you can draw up basic rules that will help delay the formation of plaque as much as possible:
- store products in a dry place;
- remove body jewelry when going to a bathhouse or sauna, as well as before sports training;
- do not take them with you to the beach;
- Do not wear silver items when sick.
If you handle jewelry following the rules and handle your favorite accessories with care, they will delight the owner with their appearance for a long time.
Real reasons for the phenomenon
Many people believe in omens, but there is a scientific explanation for the blackening of silver on the body. The change in color of the metal is a chemical reaction. Most silver jewelry contains copper, which can oxidize. This reaction occurs with increased sweating or in conditions of air oversaturated with moisture.
There is another version of darkening of silver on the body. This noble metal is very sensitive to biochemical processes in the body, and therefore can turn black due to illness, severe stress, or emotional overload.
If there is a metabolic disorder, the body may produce more sulfur. It has a bad effect on silver, causing it to turn black.
Silver jewelry often darkens during pregnancy, pathologies of the endocrine system, and hormonal imbalances. This confirms the medical version of the reasons for the blackened metal on the body.
Another logical explanation for the darkening of silver is poor product quality. Usually this is a low-quality material hidden under silver plating.
Scientific explanation for blackening of silver items
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Source:
As already noted, silver darkens due to contact with sulfur-containing substances. A chemical oxidation reaction occurs, as a result of which a darkening is formed on the surface of objects made of this metal - sulfide, which also changes the physical properties, in this case the color: 4Ag+O2+2H2S=2Ag2S+2H2O But a ring or pectoral cross can darken sharply and unexpectedly. What does this reaction indicate? Perhaps their owner changed his place of residence or moved to another place where there is a high level of hydrogen sulfide in the air on business. But in the case of jewelry, the most likely cause is exposure to human sweat. Due to the sulfuric acid salts included in its composition, the product oxidizes and darkens.
