A pectoral cross is not just a decoration, but also a symbol of faith, visible evidence of belonging to a church, confession of Christianity, and a means of grace-filled protection. According to the rules of the Orthodox Church, it is not recommended to remove the cross; you must wear it constantly.
If the cross is made of silver, it quickly turns black on the body, especially in the hot summer or with regular intense physical activity. The beautiful white color becomes an unattractive grayish-black. Let's consider the main reasons for this phenomenon, as well as possible ways to solve the problem.
Chemical composition
Silver, in its value, is significantly inferior to other precious metals, the price for this is a lower ability to withstand the influence of the external environment. Pure metal is not used for the production of jewelry due to its high ductility. Products made from soft silver are deformed from the slightest impact and wear very quickly, losing their original shine.
To increase strength, copper and other chemical elements are added to it; the purity content in the alloy is called fineness. The most common are 925, 875, 830. The lower the sample, correspondingly, the lower the amount of noble metal, the sooner blackening occurs.
- This is important: Why are different samples of silver needed?
Climate
A pendant made of copper and silver quickly turns black under certain climatic conditions: high humidity near the sea, the presence of hydrogen sulfide in the air.
Chlorine content in drinking water can also cause color changes. Copper and silver ions oxidize, reacting with sulfur and chlorine compounds, which causes darkening of the metal.
If you have taken a swim in a pond and the cross suddenly turns black, it means that the water contains harmful impurities. When a liquid evaporates, chemically active sulfur and chlorine compounds enter the air.
Rain in such a climate zone will also contain substances that contribute to the blackening of the metal. Often harmful impurities in water bodies and sediments have an adverse effect on the human body. Perhaps, in the presence of aggressive climatic conditions, it is worth thinking about changing your place of residence.
Health status
The main reason for the blackening of the cross on the human body is sweating. With sweat, a huge number of chemical compounds are excreted from the body, most of them have a negative effect on silver.
The pectoral cross is susceptible to this effect more than other jewelry, for the simple reason that there are many sweat glands on the chest. The severity of sweat depends on several factors.
- Stress can seriously affect the chemical composition of sweat. At the biochemical level, stress acts like radiation and has a destructive effect on the entire body.
- Diseases can also affect metabolism, however, the most noticeable effect on the silver cross is exerted by medications, the remains of which are eliminated through sweat.
- Intense physical activity leads to increased sweat production; accordingly, the amount of harmful substances increases, which certainly affects the appearance of the pectoral cross.
Weakening the biofield
Each person is surrounded by a biofield that protects from external negative influences. People believe that a darkening of the cross can signal a weakened aura.
In this case, the owner of the pendant often experiences melancholy, stops enjoying life, and begins to get sick.
The first sign of a weakened biofield is considered to be intolerance to communication with people who have strong negative energy. After such contact, a person with a depleted aura is able to lie down for a long time.
Positive emotions restore a weakened biofield well. Try changing your surroundings, for example, going on vacation. Try to solve problems as soon as possible. Avoid stressful situations.
Alternatively, you can turn to witches and traditional healers for help.
Ways to protect silver
There are two methods of coating jewelry to protect it from the harmful effects of the environment and preserve its original appearance.
Rhodium plating is coating the surface of a product with a thin layer of rhodium, a platinum group metal with unique reflective properties and increased hardness. The use of this technology allows us to solve the problem of not only oxidation, but also the loss of shine of silver jewelry. Disadvantages of rhodium plating can be considered a change in color towards a grayer one and the wiping of the coating over time, which becomes necessary for restoration.
- This is useful: Advantages and disadvantages of rhodium plated silver
Silvering is the application of pure silver to a product, which resists blackening much better. Apart from wiping, like any other spraying, this method has no disadvantages; it is an ideal option for protecting the pristine appearance of the pectoral cross.
Another common disadvantage of all types of coatings is their complete or partial destruction during repairs using soldering and heating to high temperatures.
Evil eye
The consecrated pendant darkens in the presence of the evil eye or induced damage. In this case, the cross suddenly turns black, and one gets the feeling that it is in the way, suffocating.
Cleaning does not solve the problem; after a short time, the material changes color again.
Moreover, the blacker the metal, the stronger the negative impact. Over time, a person begins to get sick and feels a loss of strength.
In the event of an evil eye or damage, a deliverance ritual should be performed: light three candles for saints in three different churches. Afterwards, the cross must be thoroughly cleaned and kept in holy water for at least a day. You can ask the priest to re-bless the pendant.
GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CORRECT SELECTION OF SILVER CHAIN
Crosses and chains, both silver and gold, are an integral part of every Christian believer, and many others who do not associate themselves with religion in any way often use crosses as decoration.
Silver chains and crosses can be either modest and small or luxurious, encrusted with precious stones.
Silver chains differ in overall length, methods of weaving and connecting links, weight, and shape.
The most common chain length for men is 45-50 cm, while for women they are usually slightly longer than 50-55 cm. When choosing a silver chain for yourself or as a gift to a loved one, you need to take into account such a factor as the structure of the neck. So, for women with a short neck, longer chains are best suited, while for the owner of a “swan” neck, it is better to choose a short collar chain.
When choosing a chain, it is worth considering the weight of the decoration, since the higher it is, the more voluminous the product will look.
When choosing a silver chain for a man, you should proceed from other criteria. For a young man, a chain of medium thickness and length, with anchor, bismarck or armored weaving, is best suited. You can also consider the option of combined weaving.
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Middle-aged men prefer wider, more massive chains, which in the best way emphasize their status as an accomplished, self-confident person.
Regardless of whether the chain is for men or women, you should pay attention to some decoration parameters. You should not choose a chain that has a fastener that is too small.
It is better if it is slightly larger than the chain itself. You should not experience any difficulty opening and closing the lock.
You should not choose a chain that has a fastener that is too small. It is better if it is slightly larger than the chain itself. You should not experience any difficulty opening and closing the lock.
Silver items, such as jewelry chains, are considered a classic and very popular option. Traditional or the latest technologies in the manufacture of silver jewelry make it possible to create unimaginable models and implement intricate and unusual design solutions. Haven't you decided yet how to successfully combine your cross with a chain? Then the following tips will be useful to you.
Color Compatibility
Make sure that the two products match each other in color, this is the key to good taste. Length. Ideally, it should be 2 sizes larger than the neck size.
The approximate length of the men's chain is 50 cm. Weight. Keep in mind that the cross should not weigh more than the chain. It’s good if its weight is half the weight of the chain, so it won’t pull it too much. Lock. Check its reliability and strength carefully. Weaving. Flexibility, elasticity and strength are the main criteria for weaving. The simpler it is, the faster and better the chains are repaired.
If the crosses are quite heavy, it is better to choose hand-woven rather than machine-woven chains. Machine weaving cannot always boast of reliability. Hand-woven chains are highly durable and almost impossible to break. At the same time, the chain does not lose its elegance and does not look too heavy.
Methods to combat darkening
When a person is faced with the fact that a silver cross has turned black, he has a question about how to clean it and return it to its former beauty. You can go to a jewelry workshop, where a special liquid is used for cleaning. Or you can solve the problem yourself. There are several methods that do not require expensive drugs. In order to restore the shine to a cross that has darkened, you will need regular baking soda, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, ammonia, citric acid or toothpaste.
The darkening will go away if you leave the product in a mixture of alcohol and hydrogen peroxide for 30 minutes, and then wipe it with a clean cloth. The former shine will be restored if you rub the cross with a paste made from soda and a few drops of water. You can enhance the effect if you add the same amount of ammonia and toothpaste to the soda.
Some believe that even Coca-Cola can help in the fight against darkening. The cross should be filled with drink and left for at least 12 hours, and then simply wiped with a napkin. People know another interesting way to clean silver. To do this you will need foil and baking soda. The product wrapped in foil is placed in water, which is brought to a boil. Then 1 teaspoon of soda is added and this mixture is boiled for 5 minutes. The product becomes like new.
Why did the golden cross on the human body darken?
Gold is a metal even less susceptible to chemicals than silver, but it is also much softer. That is why, in the manufacture of gold-based jewelry alloys, a lower percentage of the precious metal is used.
750-carat gold is already too soft: it is not used in the jewelry industry, but sometimes exclusive custom-made jewelry is made from it. The most acceptable combination of price and performance characteristics is 585-carat gold - the majority of jewelry supplied to the retail chain is made from it.
If the gold cross has darkened, most likely it is due to the composition and number of ligatures. Factory-made gold-based jewelry alloys darken extremely rarely, so it is quite possible that this is a fake. Or you obviously saved money by choosing a cheaper option.
Gold pendant with topaz in the SUNLIGHT catalog
Also, if the gold cross has turned black, perhaps it is just dirty. And the layer of contamination can be easily removed using the simplest products available in the kitchen or in the family medicine cabinet.
Under the influence of human body secretions, gold darkens not nearly as intensely as silver. But this factor cannot be discounted: sometimes even the medications taken and cosmetics used affect the color of gold.
Sins
A sudden strong darkening of the cross may indicate bad deeds of the owner. This is especially true for pendants made of silver, since this metal has long been endowed with all sorts of mystical properties, including deliverance from evil spirits. With the accompanying blackening of the chain, the person was threatened with inspection in the dungeons of the Inquisition.
There is also a belief that a gold item darkens when a serious sin is committed. A noble metal can change color if a person is at a crossroads, degrades or forgets about moral principles.
Even if you haven’t noticed any wrongdoing, before cleaning your pectoral cross, it won’t hurt to go to church and pray, asking God for forgiveness for conscious or unconscious sins.
