"Fake" Jewerly

[BlueSugar]

I reciently recieved two rings and they turn my fingers green I've heard hairspray to coat it, I've heard nail polish on the inside.

But both make my fingers sticky. I LOVE the rings and refuse to give them up. They're silver (supposedly)...


anyone?

 

[jradek75]

I think this is somewhat common with sterling silver because it has copper in it as an alloy. From what I've read online about it, it seems the moisture on your hands causes the jewerly to tarnish. This tarnish will either stain your skin black or green. The most common suggestions are to clean the jewerly very often to prevent any tarnish buildup and to take the jewerly off at night to give your fingers a chance to breath. I also saw the nail polish trick too. Perhap a jeweler has something better to coat it with besides nail polish?

 

[yodaboy]

Green = Copper.

If I was you I would google the manufacturer.

I have seen some dodgy things like people selling copper plated jewelry and claming its pure silver, or even worse cast lead with chrome plating that does not cover the lead properly! (Lead in contact with skin = bad!)

If you really don’t want to part with them take them to a jewelry repair place and get them to silver plate it again to completely cover up the copper.

 

[JustSkye]

this also has to do with the acids and alkalinity in your skin. This will even happen with gold. Do you drink lots of sodas, coffee, tea? If so, try drinking more water ( I know I know *BLECH*) but it will help.

 

[sweetnpetite]

this can happen with gold- but it's not supposed to happen with silver.

maybe put them on a chain and wear them around your neck (?)

 

[stingray61]

Clear finger nail polish works great AFTER it dries. It also works great for stopping those little screws coming out of sunglasses.

 

[jradek75]

this can happen with gold- but it's not supposed to happen with silver.

Pure silver does tarnish but it usually just dulls the color and wipes right off. Everyday handling usually keeps the tarnish at bay so it never builds up.

That's why I think it's probably sterling silver. Sterling silver is 92.5% silver and 7.5% alloy (typically copper). It's the copper that causes the discoloration. The copper takes very little value away from the silver and imparts more strength.

Do the rings have anything stamped in them? A 925, ster, or sterling imprint or something?

 

[Dstorage]

I'd agree, if there is any significant amount of silver in them the rings will be stamped. Also, Yodaboy is right, if you like the rings just have them silver plated. Does not cost much at all. You eill probably need to have it done every year or two, but if you like the rings why not?

 

[BlueSugar]

Pure silver does tarnish but it usually just dulls the color and wipes right off. Everyday handling usually keeps the tarnish at bay so it never builds up.

That's why I think it's probably sterling silver. Sterling silver is 92.5% silver and 7.5% alloy (typically copper). It's the copper that causes the discoloration. The copper takes very little value away from the silver and imparts more strength.

Do the rings have anything stamped in them? A 925, ster, or sterling imprint or something?

yeah, one has a 925 K, the other just says 925.
BUT I have a ring that I've worn for 7 years that has a 925 stamp on it and all is well. And after looking at my other jewerly, a bunch of others have the stamp and I never had a problem

I wear sterling silver all the time, it has been a while since I got a new ring. This never happens to me, and I don't wear gold so that is never an issue.

I know the difference between tarnish and dirt and all.
I tried cleaning them and cleaning my hands. I knew about the mositure and the alkiline in my skin. I don't drink soda, coffee or tea (just water and juice) I take them off when I shower and when I sleep.

so stick with the nail polish or get something from a jeweler which would probably be much like nail polish (lol)

 

[jradek75]

yeah, one has a 925 K, the other just says 925.
BUT I have a ring that I've worn for 7 years that has a 925 stamp on it and all is well. And after looking at my other jewerly, a bunch of others have the stamp and I never had a problem

This could be for a couple of reasons. Nothing mandates that the alloy has to be copper. It could be any type of metal. I also read that some sterling silver jewelry has a clear coating put on it before it's sold. Hopefully, a jeweler can do this or something similar for you.

so stick with the nail polish or get something from a jeweler which would probably be much like nail polish (lol)

If the jewelry is worth it, I would absolutely take it to a jeweler. They're suppose to be experts on this stuff (unlike me). I would think whatever they use has to be better than nail polish.

 

[h_i_s]

VermilionSkye is correct in her answer. The silver ring is reacting with ph levels of the skin.

Everyone's skin is different. Some have skin which emits higher acidic levels, lower alkalinity levels ... or lower acid, higher alkaline .... Metals have a ph level too, and when the levels of skin & metal clash ... reactions can occur. This is a VERY common reaction for many who wear silver. Best bet is to have the ring treated, dipped ... resurfaced with a coat of 'whatever'. Fingernail polish works... but is a short term solution as it will eventually chip away/wear off.

BlueSugar:
Take it to a jeweler to be dipped in a pure solution of silver to 'nix' the copper ... it's the copper which is turning your finger green/black. The ring is not 'fake'.

 

[Vixandra]

I've a dragon necklace in, I believe, pewter that did the same thing to my skin- large blackish mark across the center of my chest that looked as if I'd been hit.

Clear nail polish, about four layers of it, did the trick of coating it quite nicely. Could give that a try. Once its dry it shouldn't be sticky or anything.