Silver is a highly valued metal, especially in jewelry. That is why it is convenient to know how to keep it in perfect condition. And it is that being a reactive metal, it blackens quickly, losing its luster and showing an aged appearance.
Surely, on more than one occasion, when you take out some silver pieces that you have not worn for a long time, you have been surprised that it has darkened and lost all its shine.
Well, as they say, there is good news and bad news. The bad news is that it inevitably changes color, the good news is that it has a solution.
First and foremost, note that all silver darkens, and this does not mean that the piece is not silver or that it is of poor quality.
Proper maintenance of silver pieces can prevent premature blackening. In fact, these simple gestures may be enough:
- Put on the jewelry just before leaving home, avoiding contact with creams or perfumes.
- Clean each piece of silver briefly after using it.
- Never shower or wash your hands with jewelry on.
NOW, WHY DOES 925 STERLING SILVER JEWELRY TURN BLACK?
The answer is very simple: it is a chemical reaction with hydrogen sulfide in the air. For this reason, it may be that a jewel kept in perfect cleaning conditions appears blackened when its owner wishes to put it back on.
Many of us make the mistake of thinking that silver rusts. Silver cannot be oxidized, since it does not react with oxygen in the air, but reacts with sulfur or hydrogen sulfide. Without going into more detail about the chemical reaction, what this sulfide does is "tarnish" the silver, giving it a yellowish appearance first and then, over time, black.
The chemical reaction between silver and hydrogen sulfide forms a very thin, superficial layer around the metal. This layer actually works as protection by keeping the pure silver below the surface.
Silver is a reactive metal. Also reacts with perfumes, creams, makeup, hair sprays, rubber, latex, rubber band, sheep's wool, onion, and egg. Even the natural oils in our skin can darken silver.
Exposing them to long periods of sun, artificial light, seawater, or abrasive cleaning products such as chlorine can cause the silver to blacken.
Besides, the PH (acid number) of the skin can have specific characteristics that cause the rapid darkening of silver. For this reason, a piece can turn black for you and not a friend of yours.
RECOVERING THE SHINE OF BLACK SILVERWHAT IF IT HAS ALREADY TURNED BLACK?
If the color change is still slight, warm water with toothpaste or baking soda can be used. Rubbing with your hand should be enough. If not, a soft toothbrush may work. If the piece has precious or semi-precious stones, be careful so that it does not suffer scratches or fractures.
There are also commercial cloths with micro-abrasives to polish the jewel. Those cleaning cloths help to remove the dark surface.
WHAT CAN BE DONE WITH VERY BLACK SILVER?
If the silver is already very dark, it is best to go to a jeweler to polish the top layer, although there are specific products on the market that you can use to clean it. However, you must be very careful when applying them, especially if the object you want to clean has embedded precious stones; they could fall off their base or get damaged.
For jewelry with many stones or pieces with elaborate design, which are difficult to clean with a brush, it is best to take your pieces to a jewelry store for an ultrasound cleaning. With this, a total cleaning is achieved, which will leave your jewel as new, without having to run the risk of damaging it.
SUMMARY:
• Black silver is natural and is due to hydrogen sulfide in the air.
• Avoid black silver with frequent cleaning
• Slightly blackened silver is cleaned with baking soda or toothpaste.
• A jeweler can restore the shine of black silver with a polishing.
We hope this article has been useful to you and remember that in Wholesale 925 sterling siliver jewelry, you will always find that jewel that will make you look fashionable this season.
