My jewelry turned black, green or scratched: causes and fixes

Almost every change in a jewel has a chemical or mechanical explanation. This guide sums them up.

My jewelry turned black #

Silver reacts with sulfur in the air and in some products and forms sulfide, which is black. It does not mean it is fake. See why silver tarnishes and how to clean it.

My ring leaves a green mark on my finger #

It is usually the copper in the alloy or base metal reacting with sweat and cosmetics; it is not always an allergy. See why jewelry turns the skin green.

My chain has turned reddish #

The copper in an alloy, or in the inner layer if it is plated, shows when the plating wears or oxidizes. Gentle cleaning often helps; if it is plated, the colored layer cannot be recovered without plating again. See gold plated, filled and vermeil.

My stone has come loose #

Prongs open or wear with use. Stop wearing the jewel and take it to the jeweler: repairing a prong in time avoids losing the stone. See prong repair.

The gold looks worn #

Solid gold does not wear away, but plated or filled gold does lose its layer. If it is solid, the fine scratches that dull the shine can be polished out. See how to clean gold.

My jewel has scratches #

Surface scratches on metals can be polished. On plated jewelry, polishing removes the layer. See polishing and professional maintenance.

The stone has lost its shine #

It is usually dirt, soap or grease dulling the stone. Wash it in warm water with a soft brush, unless it is a delicate stone. If it is scratched, it has to be repolished. See cleaning jewelry with stones.

More repairs #

Broken chain, a clasp that does not work, a deformed ring: see how to fix a broken chain and jewelry restoration and repair.