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Q&As since 1989


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Is it safe to wear the wedding gold wedding band that the mercury turned silver?

I also dropped a dot of mercury on my gold wedding band when I dropped an old light switch that broke. My band turned silver and actually it is very nice looking. I am just not sure if it is safe to wear it. Is it safe to wear this ring now leaving it silver?

Scott Randolph
hobbyist - Odessa, Texas
2007

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2007

Scott,
They used to use mercury to extract gold from it's ores, not too common anymore. When elemental mercury comes in contact with gold the gold is wetted and "drawn" into the mercury. What you have is a gold-mercury alloy or amalgam. If the ring is 14k gold add one more alloy to the mix. Because such a small amount is on the ring, and alloyed with other metals, I don't see a big problem with wearing the ring.
If there is too much mercury present you will develop a skin rash, in that case cease wearing it.

Mark Baker
Process Engineer - Syracuse, New York

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July 31, 2011

Hi, Scott.

If your jeweler will not repair this for you (and apparently almost none will), you can get coconut oil.
and boil the ring in it for two minutes.

In letter 13044, seven people claimed success with this. I'd do the boiling outside though.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey