Greetings, our dear readers! Remembering the dashing nineties, I now laugh at one story that excited our children’s hearts then. It was rumored that gold had some magical powers. And we willingly believed in it - otherwise how could we explain why the finger under the gold ring turns black? Not otherwise than from the evil eye!
And only in my second year at university, during lectures on inorganic chemistry, I learned that the reasons for such blackening are much more prosaic. Today I will try to tell you about them in detail.
Scientific explanation of why skin turns black from gold
Science has officially explained why gold leaves a black mark on the skin.
- Product ligature. One of the main reasons why gold can cause skin to turn black is wearing low-grade gold. The 375 sterling chain will most likely leave marks on the body. The gold from which the jewelry is made contains many impurities: nickel, zinc and copper. The darkening of the skin is simply the coloring of the metal ligature. It is recommended to wear products of at least 585 standard.
Interesting!
In Turkey, where the production of gold jewelry is not controlled at the state level and there are no standards, the market for low-quality jewelry is thriving. Low quality Turkish gold will oxidize, leaving marks on the body, or cause allergies.
- Sweating. Blackening of gold jewelry can occur as a result of oxidation. The catalyst for oxidation is human sweat, which contains many acids and salts. They negatively affect the precious metal. Therefore, gold darkens with changes in seasons, weather or climate. During periods of increased sweating, it is better for a person to avoid gold jewelry. If a person has hyperhidrosis (constant sweating regardless of climatic conditions), you need to look for the causes of the problem and get treatment.
- Hormonal imbalance. Sweating occurs when medications are eliminated from the body. If a person takes medications, then dark stripes may well appear on the ears, neck - places where the skin comes into contact with gold jewelry. During pregnancy, women's hormonal levels change, which can cause increased sweating. In addition, pregnant women often experience swelling, and the rings may simply be small in size and rub the skin of the fingers.
- Allergy. In addition to gold, the ligature of high-quality gold products usually contains palladium or platinum. Unscrupulous manufacturers replace these metals with cheaper nickel, which is a powerful allergen. The owner of the jewelry often does not even realize that he is wearing low-quality gold, and cannot understand the reasons for the black spots on the body.
- Interaction with hand creams. Leftover black marks from rings or bracelets may be the result of the metal reacting with the cosmetic treatment. The same traces may remain when interacting with detergents. Advice: during water procedures, when washing dishes, when washing, gold should be removed.
- Polishing paste for gold. The finished product is treated with polishing paste. It may leave dark marks on the skin as it contains chemical components.
- External influences. Perhaps the decoration is simply dirty. Therefore, it leaves a dark stripe on the finger. The decoration's coating may deteriorate when exposed to water. It is better to swim in the sea without jewelry; water procedures are allowed if we are talking about medical gold.
- Wrong size. A ring that leaves marks behind itself may simply not be enough. The blood flow to the finger stops and it turns black. The ring also becomes small with edema, when a person gains excess weight. Wearing a small ring is very dangerous. There are cases where gold can be removed only by sawing it.
Impact on humans
Jewelry that a person wears close to his body every day has an impact on his body.
We are not talking about those jewelry that are worn several times a month, on holidays or weekends. These are things that are not removed from the fingers, ears or neck. Most often - gold jewelry.
The influence of gold on humans:
| № | Point of view | Influence |
| 1 | Psychological | The noble metal tones the nervous system. Gives confidence in actions and intentions. When wearing gold jewelry, a person may act a little arrogant. He feels on a subconscious level that he has something that many others cannot afford. For women, such jewelry gives confidence in their beauty. They become more relaxed |
| 2 | Spiritual | In ancient times, gold was considered a source of solar power and energy; it was given to warriors to give them strength in the fight. It was believed that if a warrior took a gold item from home, he would definitely return it. The yellow metal was endowed with special properties: it was believed that it drives away evil spirits, gives women beauty and fertility, and promotes a strong union. This is where the tradition of putting gold rings on each other's fingers on their wedding day came from. |
| 3 | Physiological | Metal tones the work of the heart and blood vessels. It is not recommended to constantly wear such things for people suffering from hypertension. Has a beneficial effect on brain activity: improves memory and brain function. According to unconfirmed reports, metal helps cope with head diseases |
How to Avoid a Black Thumb Situation
To prevent your fingers from turning black under your rings, and to prevent dark streaks on your skin from chains and earrings, gold must not only be worn correctly, but also purchased.
- Don't skimp on the quality of gold. Jewelry made from low-grade precious metal necessarily contains impurities. The metals contained in the ligature can oxidize or cause allergies, causing the skin to turn black. The decoration must have a stamp in accordance with GOST.
- You should buy jewelry only in specialized stores and jewelry stores that can provide a certificate for the product.
- Study the composition and manufacturer in the jewelry certificate. Trust well-known manufacturers whose products have already been worn by you or your acquaintances, friends, and relatives. If gold is not certified, its quality should be questionable.
- Take into account the “internal” reasons for the appearance of dark spots from gold items.
- monitor your health, watch for allergic reactions;
- if there is increased sweating, it is necessary to take tests for hormones, this may be a signal of some kind of disease;
- During pregnancy, women gain excess weight and swell; The rings need to be removed temporarily.
- It is necessary to properly care for your jewelry regularly:
- avoid interaction with chemicals: remove before cleaning the house;
- remove during water and cosmetic procedures;
- care for gold: clean, polish;
- Store in a metal-friendly environment.
Darkened skin after gold is not the norm. And gold is not “to blame” for turning black. It is advisable to look for the root cause and eliminate it.
Application of protective rhodium coating. Average cost of service
A reliable way to prevent blackness from gold jewelry is to cover it with a protective rhodium film. In jewelry, rhodium plating is a common process of protecting a piece by applying rhodium, a platinum group metal that is similar in appearance to silver.
Some recommendations
When using gold jewelry, you should adhere to some rules:
- wearing gold jewelry is allowed only after cosmetics have been completely absorbed;
- Extreme care should be taken when cleaning gold jewelry. Gold is a very soft metal; there is always the possibility of damaging the jewelry if not properly cared for;
- A simple solution of ammonia or laundry soap is suitable for cleaning gold products. You should place the product in the solution, and after a while simply wipe it with a soft cloth.
Before you get scared, you need to try basic measures to eliminate the possible causes of darkening.
First, you should clean the jewelry well, and be sure to remove the gold before doing housework. If no result appears, it is worth checking the metal for quality in the laboratory. However, if everything is in order, the decoration is of high quality, and the unpleasant phenomena resume, you should see a doctor for a general examination.
But there is no need to panic; most likely, the reason lies in poor hygiene or the purchase of counterfeit jewelry. There is no need to completely deny yourself the pleasure of wearing gold rings if your skin has darkened. Such phenomena usually disappear without a trace within a week.
Solving the problem of blackness
Tarnished gold jewelry, black skin spots - all this can be avoided.
A recipe from superstitious people that gets rid of damage and evil
Superstitious people saw signs for themselves in everything. If there is a black mark left on the neck after the chain - the evil eye, the gold earrings have darkened - damage. It was believed that gold has its own energy and takes energy from its owner. Hence the sign: you cannot wear jewelry that is not new, you cannot appropriate found rings or bracelets. Our ancestors noted: they will not bring happiness.
Gold was left as an inheritance - it was necessarily consecrated in the church, cleansed of foreign energy.
Energetic cleaning of jewelry
It was important which hand you could wear the rings on - left or right. Thus, wedding rings were and are worn only on the ring finger of the left hand. A ring on the thumb is a sign of will, spirit, and strong character. Wearing gold on the index finger means gaining wisdom, intelligence, and creative ideas. It is known that the Russian poet Alexander Pushkin loved to decorate his index fingers with rings.
Recommendations for caring for gold from skeptics
Unlike esotericists, skeptics do not believe unscientific versions of blackening of the skin under gold rings. Superstitious and magical beliefs, in their opinion, are the result of a lack of knowledge among people. But if our ancestors were truly poorly educated, today there are scientific explanations for all manifestations of the properties of gold. Proper care, timely cleaning and a protective coating are all that is necessary to prevent gold from turning black.
Possible blackening factor
The term “pure gold” is of little use in jewelry practice. Without the addition of other metals, the material has reduced performance properties. Firstly, due to excessive softness, rapid abrasion and scratching occurs. Secondly, unacceptable fragility occurs. When silver is added, the green tint predominates, often around the edges of the jewelry. When copper is added, the product turns pink.
As a result, the jewelry remains durable and strong. The amount of impurities is indicated by the sample. In trade, products with article number 585 are more common, which means 59% gold in the composition. According to research, this ratio is sufficient; the necessary chemical properties of precious metals and the reliability of the item are preserved. In the case of excess impurities, quality indicators decrease and the price drops.
Ways to clean gold jewelry
If a gold item leaves dark streaks not only on the skin, but also on clothes, it is most likely just dirty. It is recommended to clean your gold regularly, especially if it is worn frequently. Jewelry should be stored in boxes or caskets away from moisture and sunlight.
Cleaning gold items
Washing jewelry in a solution of soap and peroxide
Clean gold with a soft cloth soaked in a prepared solution with the following composition:
- liquid soap – 2-3 teaspoons;
- hydrogen peroxide and ammonia - a teaspoon each;
- a glass of hot water.
Heavily soiled jewelry can be placed in this solution for several hours. Then wipe with a dry, clean cloth.
Water bath with dishwashing liquid
Add a little detergent to 200 ml of water and put on fire. Place the gold items on a sieve and place it on a saucepan of boiling water. Keep steaming for 20-30 minutes.
Velvet cloth or clean white eraser for the stone ring
If the ring is set with a gemstone, you need to be careful. It is cleaned with a soft cloth, for example, velvet. A regular white eraser, preferably a new one, will also help remove dirt.
Caring for a gold ring
Ammonia
Ammonia not only cleans jewelry from dirt, but also returns it to its former shine. Ammonia is used in aqueous solutions and mixtures. You need to mix ammonia, glycerin, and magnesia in equal parts. The decoration is rubbed with this composition and dried.
Soda
Regular baking soda is mixed with warm water until a paste forms, applied in a thick layer and left until completely dry. The frozen soda is washed off under running water. Do not rub the product; abrasive particles can scratch it.
Salt
A product in every housewife's arsenal can help in cleaning your favorite ring or earrings. In a glass of warm water you need to dilute a tablespoon of salt until completely dissolved. Place gold in the solution and leave it there overnight.
Section question - answer
Why does a gold ring leave a black streak on my finger?
Expert opinion
Pribrezhny Gennady Valentinovich
Jeweler 6th category
There are many reasons, and we are not talking about magic. Poor-quality alloy of the product, hormonal disorders or an allergic reaction to a certain metal in the ligature - each case is individual.
If you run a gold ring across your face, a black streak remains, why, what could this mean?
Expert opinion
Grishanov Mikhail Petrovich
Jeweler, director of the Grishanov and Co. workshop
Many people have noticed that if you run a ring over your face, a black stripe will remain. This has nothing to do with signs. The mark will remain on any part of the skin if you rub it with a hard object. When pressed, blood flows to this place, it darkens. It is for this reason that bruises and abrasions remain after bruises and blows.
Why does the skin under gold jewelry darken and leave a black mark?
Expert opinion
Andrey Seleznev
Chemist-technologist, Volgograd
Another reason for black marks on the skin: the product is small in size. For example, the ring presses, squeezes the finger, blood rushes. Perhaps the gold item is dirty and needs to be cleaned.
Gold ring with a stone on the finger
Does gold turn black on any part of the body?
Expert opinion
Pribrezhny Gennady Valentinovich
Jeweler 6th category
Pure gold does not turn black because it does not have the ability to oxidize. Blackness appears due to impurities in the composition of the jewelry, due to hormonal imbalances on absolutely any area of the skin.
Possible consequences of black marks and ways to eliminate them
Often people, noticing that the skin on their finger is turning black from the ring, begin to worry greatly, suspecting either a defect in the product itself or serious health problems in themselves. However, other than aesthetic unattractiveness, blackening traces of oxides do not pose any particular danger if allergic reactions are excluded.
To remove the mark, just wash your skin thoroughly with neutral soap. Don't forget to wash and dry the product itself.
Jeweler's opinion
Molokanov N.M.
Jeweler, 26 years of experience in jewelry production.
Why does a gold ring or other jewelry leave a black streak? In addition to the noble metal itself, copper, nickel, platinum or palladium are added to the composition of gold jewelry. It is from them that the dark stripes remain. These metals are necessary, first of all, to impart hardness to the metal. With the help of impurities, jewelry acquires different color shades. The addition of additional metals to the alloy is justified, but in a reasonable amount according to GOST. If there is very little base metal in gold jewelry, it is considered low-grade and of poor quality. Unfortunately, manufacturers pass off such products as original ones. Paying a high price for low-quality jewelry is not so bad. The most dangerous thing is that “gold” can cause allergies.
Why are other metals added to gold jewelry?
999.9 standard gold is a very soft and ductile metal. And very heavy. Thus, a pendant in the form of a droplet of pure gold with a diameter of only 2 cm will weigh almost 500 g, and it can be easily scratched even with a fingernail. Therefore, in order to increase strength, reduce specific gravity, and also give gold an unusual color, other metals are added to the alloy. Thus, the presence of copper gives the alloy a pleasant pink tint, platinum adds noble white, and when alloyed with silver, gold turns green!
Not the least important factor in the choice of metals for the ligature is the cost of decoration, so often an alloy can contain up to eight different metals. It is they, or rather their oxides, that are the culprits of the blackening stripes on your fingers.
