Summary for silver jewelry tarnishes Discussion
Silver jewelry repeatedly tarnishes in 24 hours because the black film is usually silver sulfide, and Khair Shishani explains that the rapid blue-black discoloration is likely caused by a combination of moisture from the skin and sulfur-containing chemicals in the air or on the skin itself. The original questioner, Desdamona McDonald, said the sterling silver ring was cleaned with toothpaste, Tarn-X, and buffing, yet it kept darkening even though it never left her finger. Shishani notes that ordinary tarnish is common and removable, but this faster blackening points to ongoing exposure rather than storage on a dresser. His practical suggestion is to coat the jewelry with a protective layer such as nail varnish to slow the reaction, then remove and reapply it with nail varnish remover when it breaks down. The advice is helpful but not a permanent cure.
Q. I have a piece of sterling silver jewelry that has just recently tarnished and I have cleaned it using different methods (tooth paste, Tarn-X tarnish remover
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, buffing) the ring never comes off my finger so I suspect that it is not from sitting on a dresser. Why is this ring tarnishing within a 24 hour period? It turns a blue black color. Does anyone have an explanation?
Desdamona McDonald
student – Bronx, New York
2004
A. Sterling silver that tarnishes is due to the creation of silver sulfide on the surface of the metal. This is very common with silver and can be easily removed by light polishing. However, that does not explain your problem or help you. The blackening occurs by a combination of moisture (from your skin) and from sulfur containing chemicals that could be either in the air or on your skin; for instance, proteins contain sulfur. The best way of preventing this happening is to coat the jewelry with a protective layer such as nail varnish. This will not totally prevent the problem but it will slow it down. Once the varnish has broken down and the blackening starts again, it can be removed with nail varnish remover and replaced.
Trevor Crichton
R&D practical scientist
Chesham, Bucks, UK
2004
A. I assume that you cleaned your ring so bright and immediately you cooked garlic, if it is so next time wait a while, a day or so, before putting the ring back onto your finger and some vaseline (light paraffin) would help
Khair Shishani
aircraft maintenance – Al Ain, UAE
2004