The reason is : http://www.jewelry-secrets.com/Metals/Silver/Why-Does-Silver-Tarnish/What-Makes-Sterling-Silver-Tarnish.html
Silver is the most popular type of metal used for Jewelry in the World today. Jewelers love it, customers love it, there's a great abundance of it, and it's inexpensive! It seems like such a win-win situation, doesn't it?But there's one huge down-fall to Silver. It tarnishes! It turns black. It leaves dark black, blue, purple stains on your fingers, wrists and neck. It even leaves stains on your clothes. Everywhere that Silver touches, Silver leaves its mark. And not in a pretty way! It's gross and ugly!
The funny thing is, it doesn't stop people from buying itor wearing it. People know Silver does this, and they don't care. It's still highly popular.
I would surmise that there are 3 main reasons why Silver is so sought after. 1) It's Cheap!(Very Cheap!) 2) It's very malleable. Jewelers and Artists have no problems molding and shaping Silver into wonderful works of art. 3) It's White! People have always been attracted to White Metals. Now more than ever. If you go into any Jewelry Store, over half the cases will be full of White Metals like: Silver, Platinum, Titanium, Tungsten, Steel or White Gold. There's no denying it, White Metals are HOT!
Silver Jewelry has been around forever. But forever doesn't help the fact that Silver is very soft.Silver is actually too soft to wear as Jewelry. That's why most of the Silver you find on the market today is called "Sterling Silver". Sterling Silver is more durable than pure Silver because of one main reason. It's mixed with other alloys. Sterling Silver contains 92.5% Silver, and the other 7.5% is Copper. Copper makes the Silver stronger and more durable so it can be crafted and styled into beautiful Jewelry pieces.
That's why you'll normally find a karat stamp inside the Rings or Jewelry that says ".925" That means 92.5% Silver, which is what the Government says Silver needs to be, to be sold in the U.S.A. as "Silver".
No matter what, Pure or mixed, nothing stops Silver from tarnishing. When Silver is exposed to the air and atmosphere, it causes a chemical reaction that creates something called Silver Sulfate. That's what that lovely little black mark is on your finger. A Sulfate stain.
There really isn't much you can do about Silver tarnishing. It's just the nature of Silver. Silver's a metal that reacts to chemicals. Whether it be chemicals in the air, or chemicals touching it. Silver reacts!
That's why most Sterling Silver sold today is plated with a thin layer of metal protection. This process is called "Flashing", and they use either Silver or Rhodium to coat the outside of the Rings or Jewelry to make them look Whiter, Brighter, and to keep the tarnishing downto a minimum. So until that plating wears off, your Silver will actually hold up pretty well.
Here's a list of things that Silver has a bad reaction with: Wool, Rubber Bands, Latex Gloves, Oils from your Hands and Fingers, Ammonia, Chlorinated Water, Carpet Padding, Air Pollution, Perfumes, Hair Sprays, and believe it or not, some foods can even make Silver tarnish. Foods like: Onions, Mayonnaise, Salad Dressing, Eggs and Salty Foods. (Put down those Chips!)
In fact, just the humidity alone can cause Silver to corrode! It's a never-ending battle.
The good thing is, it's easy to buff and clean Silver. It doesn't take much to polish up a Ring with a Polishing Cloth or a Jeweler's Buffing Wheel. Just a couple of minutes and your Silver Jewelry will look new again.
The best way to store your Silver Jewelry is in individually sealed poly bags or zip lock bags. Store it with those cute little Silica Gel Packs and it'll help remove any moisture from the air. It won't keep your Jewelry from tarnishing, but it will delay the process.
Cleaning your Silver Jewelry with warm water and drying it with a soft cloth after you wear it, will remove any oily residue and slow the process down as well.
Some people also advise storing your Jewelry with chalk just because it absorbs the toxins in the bag. Keeping your Jewelry in Tupperware or Rubbermaid Bins works great also.
The funny thing is, it doesn't stop people from buying itor wearing it. People know Silver does this, and they don't care. It's still highly popular.
I would surmise that there are 3 main reasons why Silver is so sought after. 1) It's Cheap!(Very Cheap!) 2) It's very malleable. Jewelers and Artists have no problems molding and shaping Silver into wonderful works of art. 3) It's White! People have always been attracted to White Metals. Now more than ever. If you go into any Jewelry Store, over half the cases will be full of White Metals like: Silver, Platinum, Titanium, Tungsten, Steel or White Gold. There's no denying it, White Metals are HOT!
Silver Jewelry has been around forever. But forever doesn't help the fact that Silver is very soft.Silver is actually too soft to wear as Jewelry. That's why most of the Silver you find on the market today is called "Sterling Silver". Sterling Silver is more durable than pure Silver because of one main reason. It's mixed with other alloys. Sterling Silver contains 92.5% Silver, and the other 7.5% is Copper. Copper makes the Silver stronger and more durable so it can be crafted and styled into beautiful Jewelry pieces.
That's why you'll normally find a karat stamp inside the Rings or Jewelry that says ".925" That means 92.5% Silver, which is what the Government says Silver needs to be, to be sold in the U.S.A. as "Silver".
No matter what, Pure or mixed, nothing stops Silver from tarnishing. When Silver is exposed to the air and atmosphere, it causes a chemical reaction that creates something called Silver Sulfate. That's what that lovely little black mark is on your finger. A Sulfate stain.
There really isn't much you can do about Silver tarnishing. It's just the nature of Silver. Silver's a metal that reacts to chemicals. Whether it be chemicals in the air, or chemicals touching it. Silver reacts!
That's why most Sterling Silver sold today is plated with a thin layer of metal protection. This process is called "Flashing", and they use either Silver or Rhodium to coat the outside of the Rings or Jewelry to make them look Whiter, Brighter, and to keep the tarnishing downto a minimum. So until that plating wears off, your Silver will actually hold up pretty well.
Here's a list of things that Silver has a bad reaction with: Wool, Rubber Bands, Latex Gloves, Oils from your Hands and Fingers, Ammonia, Chlorinated Water, Carpet Padding, Air Pollution, Perfumes, Hair Sprays, and believe it or not, some foods can even make Silver tarnish. Foods like: Onions, Mayonnaise, Salad Dressing, Eggs and Salty Foods. (Put down those Chips!)
In fact, just the humidity alone can cause Silver to corrode! It's a never-ending battle.
The good thing is, it's easy to buff and clean Silver. It doesn't take much to polish up a Ring with a Polishing Cloth or a Jeweler's Buffing Wheel. Just a couple of minutes and your Silver Jewelry will look new again.
The best way to store your Silver Jewelry is in individually sealed poly bags or zip lock bags. Store it with those cute little Silica Gel Packs and it'll help remove any moisture from the air. It won't keep your Jewelry from tarnishing, but it will delay the process.
Cleaning your Silver Jewelry with warm water and drying it with a soft cloth after you wear it, will remove any oily residue and slow the process down as well.
Some people also advise storing your Jewelry with chalk just because it absorbs the toxins in the bag. Keeping your Jewelry in Tupperware or Rubbermaid Bins works great also.
The best medicine for preventing Silver from tarnishing, believe it or not...Is to wear it!
It's true. Just normal wear and tear and friction of daily life will sometimes be enough to keep your Rings outer surface Bright and White! Fancy that! And if it starts to tarnish, what ever you do... Don't use Toothpaste to clean it with! The chemicals in Toothpaste are too harsh for Silver and it'll do more damage than good.
I'd recommend using a good Silver Polish or a softPolishing Cloth made for Silver, or the best thing to do, is to take it in to a Jewelry Store twice a year and have them buff and clean your Jewelry.
Silver makes great Jewelry, and it makes it cheaper than any other White Metal out there. Silver's popularity with handcrafted goods have been passed down from generation to generation. Great American Indian Tribes have dabbled in Silver for centuries. Tribes like the Navajo, Domingo, Zuni, Hopi and Pueblo Indians have been incorporating Silver with wonderful Gemstones like: Turquoise (also known as the "Sky Stone"), Tigers Eye, Onyx, Lapis, Malachite, Amber and Coral into their Folk Lore, Culture and into our admiration, hearts and souls for countless years. Silver is just inspiring!
And just remember, wear your Silver often, keep it dry and clean, and polish it a couple times a year. That way, your Sterling Silver Jewelry will last you a lifetime, and for only a couple of bucks, that's a great investment you can't deny!
It's true. Just normal wear and tear and friction of daily life will sometimes be enough to keep your Rings outer surface Bright and White! Fancy that! And if it starts to tarnish, what ever you do... Don't use Toothpaste to clean it with! The chemicals in Toothpaste are too harsh for Silver and it'll do more damage than good.
I'd recommend using a good Silver Polish or a softPolishing Cloth made for Silver, or the best thing to do, is to take it in to a Jewelry Store twice a year and have them buff and clean your Jewelry.
Silver makes great Jewelry, and it makes it cheaper than any other White Metal out there. Silver's popularity with handcrafted goods have been passed down from generation to generation. Great American Indian Tribes have dabbled in Silver for centuries. Tribes like the Navajo, Domingo, Zuni, Hopi and Pueblo Indians have been incorporating Silver with wonderful Gemstones like: Turquoise (also known as the "Sky Stone"), Tigers Eye, Onyx, Lapis, Malachite, Amber and Coral into their Folk Lore, Culture and into our admiration, hearts and souls for countless years. Silver is just inspiring!
And just remember, wear your Silver often, keep it dry and clean, and polish it a couple times a year. That way, your Sterling Silver Jewelry will last you a lifetime, and for only a couple of bucks, that's a great investment you can't deny!
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*Additional Details : story !
They are real silver and of course I wash daily. This is something that started recently, I buy very expensive silver accessories and it starts getting dark after few days. It turns dark as if it's been burnt / thrown in to fire.
Someone told me that it's a sign of ill health, but I don't feel unwell *
Someone told me that it's a sign of ill health, but I don't feel unwell *
Answer :
Your silver jewelry turning black means that it has oxidized and tarnished. Silver usually tarnishes when it is left exposed, out in the open air for an extended amount of time. If your silver jewelry tarnishes after you polish it with silver cleaner then perhaps you are not using the right products. Some household detergents contain sulfuric particles, which may damage and tarnish the silver. Therefore, when buying silver cleaning products, make sure they do not contain sulfur and that they are appropriate for cleaning jewelry. If you are sure you have been using the appropriate cleaning solutions, then perhaps the trouble is that you had kept the cleaning products on for too long, or you had neglected to wash them off properly. In general, silver cleaning products are not meant to tarnish your silver jewelry, in fact they are supposed to prevent tarnish or discoloration. Do not be afraid of using silver cleaning products, just make sure that you use them properly. Silver doesn’t tarnish that easily…though it does tarnish when it is exposed to air and sweat…so, try to wear it when you are not so sweaty, as in doing sports, or outdoors. Also, are you sure it is sterling…sometimes, it is not sterling and that’s another reason why it is tarnishing so quickly. Your body's excretions such as sweat corrode the silver, and the air also has agents that tarnish it. To prevent this, you can either buy silver cleaner at the store, or you could use toothpaste and an old toothbrush to clean it. Just make sure you don't use your fingers with the toothpaste, because your fingers will turn black!
It's tarnish--a sulfur reaction in the metal. Happens to all silver, but it's worse on some people (like me) because our skin speeds up the chemical reaction. You can tell you have good silver if it says .925 on it, but more silver=more tarnish. Oh, well.
Answer by goldsmith :
I'm doing silver cleaning job everyday in my area which works best and fast.
I do cleaning and repolishing about 1 kg everyday for other goldsmith.
If your jewelry is without stone then only use following process.
Use 15% to 25% sulfuric acid in water and then if you can heat the silver jewelry and then directly put into the acid it'll come out white smoke and then just put for 5 to 10 mins, then rinse and then do the polishing or put into tumble machine with very small amount (5 ml to 10 ml) of acidic solution.
http://www.diamondpriceguide.com/c170_Silver/c184_How-to-Clean-Silver/q80284_Why-did-my-silver-jewelry-turn-black-after-I-polished-it-with-silver-cleaner
http://www.thefoolsgold.net/sterling-silver/why-is-my-sterling-silver-turning-black-after-2-days
click here to read more...
http://www.finishing.com/381/08.shtmlhttp://www.diamondpriceguide.com/c170_Silver/c184_How-to-Clean-Silver/q80284_Why-did-my-silver-jewelry-turn-black-after-I-polished-it-with-silver-cleaner
http://www.thefoolsgold.net/sterling-silver/why-is-my-sterling-silver-turning-black-after-2-days
