How long does oxidized silver last

Over time, even with the best of care, the oxidized finish will polish off and the true color of the silver will shine through.

Re-blackening is a quick process and often offered as a free service from the store or the artist that sold you the jewelry. Oxidized finishes have the longest life on pieces that come into minimal contact with their surroundings, such as earrings and necklaces. Rings and bracelets tend not to hold their color quite as long since they rub on things we touch more frequently. Blackened finishes applied to the recesses of a design hold their color best and develop a great contrast to the raised parts of the piece which polish up over time.

But just how fast will that color wear? And when should you take it off to preserve it's blackened look? To answer that question I put my jewelry to the test. I kept the jewelry on during all of my daily activities, but followed my usual recommendations for when to remove it by taking the pieces each night to sleep, to shower, and to work out and the gym. Over time and depending on the amount of wear you give your pieces, the oxidized finish will polish off and the true color of the silver will shine through.

Oxidized finishes have the longest life on pieces that come into minimal contact with their surroundings, such as earrings and necklaces.

Rings and bracelets tend not to hold their color quite as long since they rub on things we touch more frequently. Blackened finishes which have been applied to the recesses of a design tend to hold their color best while the raised areas of the piece polish up over time. In general, oxidized silver jewelry should not be cleaned with jewelry cleaning dips or aggressive polishing that will strip the blackened surface.

If cleaning is necessary, use mild dish detergent and soft toothbrush with as little rubbing as possible. The oxidized finish of jewelry can be restored at any time. A piece of blackened or oxidized silver is true sterling silver, but it's surface has been intentionally darkened through by introducing it to a chemical process.

This patina, a surface color that occurs when the silver is introduced to sulfides, is a sped up version of the natural tarnishing process. Fill a bowl with bleach if you don't have access to liver of sulfur. Use just enough bleach to cover your jewelry. Soak the jewelry or wires in the solution until it reaches the level of black patina you desire. Remove the jewelry from the blackening solution using a pair of tweezers or a slotted spoon.

The chemicals in spray perfume, deodorant and even hairspray interact poorly with gold, creating a dull surface. Place your gold on a paper towel and spritz both sides liberally with perfumed spray. Allow the spray to dry on the gold surface. Repeat this process daily until you see results. Notice if the metal is wearing down, exposing a darker, dull metal. After the sterling silver has undergone the artificial corrosion process, it must be coated with a sealant.

While the corrosion process is necessary to achieve the desired look, too much of it is still undesirable. A form of protection is needed to prevent further oxidation. The specific form of protection employed will differ depending on where you pick up your oxidized silver piece and its manufacturer.

Some opt for a plated protective barrier. However, as covered in a previous blog post , plating brightens metals, gives them a sparking sheen, and in the case of silver, platings make it look like white gold and can cause problems when it comes to sizing and repair.. The intention is to darken the silver, and in plating the piece the silver sheen will be brought back. You can see how this method would be redundant.