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.
Causes of skin darkening from gold jewelry
There are not many real reasons why wearing gold leaves dark spots. Conventionally, they can be divided into two groups: internal reasons, when the problem lies in the product itself, for example a ring, and external reasons - the skin turns black under the influence of environmental factors. Let's look at each of them.
Domestic
The 79th element of the periodic table, gold, is rightly called a noble metal. It does not oxidize, does not react with virtually any substance, does not darken itself and does not leave blackening marks on the skin. Yes, if marks appear in your ears under the earrings, the reason is not in gold at all, but in its “neighbors”. The fact is that this precious metal in its pure form is very soft and malleable and easily deformed.
Therefore, jewelers use it only in ligature with other, harder metals: silver, platinum, palladium. Platinoids are almost as inert as gold, but they are often replaced by cheaper zinc, nickel or copper.
If you bought a ring and noticed that the skin underneath soon began to turn black and a dark stripe appeared, most likely the product was of poor quality. So, if there is more than 50% copper in the alloy, such jewelry will soon color the skin a cheerful dirty green color.
External
It also happens that a trusted grandmother’s ring of the highest standard was sent to a jewelry salon for cleaning, and after that the skin underneath it darkened. The reason is jewelry paste and a not very conscientious craftsman who did not bother to properly rinse the product after cleaning.
Or, after a year or two of married life, the skin under the wedding ring suddenly began to darken, although before that everything was fine. If this happened to a young wife, perhaps we are talking about an imminent addition to the family. Changed hormonal levels during pregnancy sometimes lead to oxidation of the ligature. It is this process that is responsible for skin turning black with gold.
There is no need to worry about this, but it is still better to remove the jewelry: during pregnancy, due to fluid retention in the body, the fingers may swell, and soon the ring will interfere with normal blood circulation.
Changes in hormonal levels or the composition of sweat can lead to blackening of the skin in men, so if the skin under your usual ring begins to turn black, this is a reason to think about internal changes in the body or even visit an endocrinologist for prevention.
Allergic reactions occur quite often when wearing gold jewelry. In this case, the blackening mark from the ring, chain, or bracelet will be impossible to wash off with soap and water, and it will have a reddish tint. As a rule, such a reaction occurs to one of the components of the jewelry alloy or to detergents, sometimes even to ordinary hand soap.
If you wear the ring without removing it and it fits tightly on your finger, particles of detergent will remain under it. The skin becomes irritated and turns black.
Among a number of external causes of blackening marks from rings and even chains, experts sometimes name cosmetics. However, among the usual compositions approved for use in the cosmetics industry, there are no such compounds that would be capable of oxidizing traditional jewelry alloys.
That's why. if gold reacts to a change in hand cream and the skin under the ring turns black, this brings us back to internal reasons - most likely, you got a low-quality alloy.
Superstitions and signs
Another theory about the reasons for skin turning black from gold is widespread among people who are convinced of the magical power of the yellow metal. Most often, this category of gold lovers has little knowledge of chemistry. It is believed that the solar metal contains powerful energy and can protect against evil forces. Well, or at least react to them.
Therefore, if you run a gold ring across your cheek and it leaves a dark streak, it means you have been jinxed. And if the skin under a gold ring turns black, it means that it has absorbed negative energy and “notified” the owner of the evil intentions of one of his neighbors.
As an experiment, I have been running the ring over my face every evening for almost a week now - so far there is no trace. One of two things - either no one wants to spoil me, or my ring corresponds to the declared 585 standard gold.
Extrascientific theories
Man by nature is a creature who seeks a mysterious background in everything. This feature did not bypass the question of the reasons for the body’s reaction to gold. The most incredible signs include:
- Evil eye . People believe that gold attracts evil glances. Ordinary envy and an unkind word can be interpreted as an unprofessional conspiracy for failure. And the gold jewelry, having darkened, thus “warns” the wearer of danger;
- Negative energy . The person himself accumulates unpleasant emotions: evil, envy, discontent. And noble metals supposedly have the ability to absorb negativity. Particularly suspicious people believe that if gold turns black, then this is a reason to go to church to cleanse the soul;
- Mystic . Every “fortune teller” will confidently confirm that a person has damage. And especially if the place under the jewelry has turned black or, in general, the product has cracked. It's even worse when it comes to a wedding ring. Naive persons are ready to give their last to take away the homewrecker, or to lift a plot to death.
Psychologists have also developed a theory regarding darkening of the fingers. According to her, a person may avoid bright and sparkling things due to stress. And the stripes that appear are a reflection of internal nervous tension.
There is no doubt that for every seemingly incredible thing there is a rational explanation. And if the situation seems mystical, then it is better to simply change the jewelry and continue to follow the rules for wearing precious items.
What to do if the reason is not clear
It happens that it is not possible or desirable to establish the authenticity of a ring, but you don’t want to part with it. Or, on the contrary, you verified the purity of the sample, checked your health, made sure there were no allergies, but the skin on your finger still turns black. In this case, you will have to put a little more effort into caring for the ring:
- Do not wear it all the time, take it off at night and every time before washing your hands.
- Do not use cosmetics for at least an hour before putting on your ring or bracelet.
- Wipe the product in contact with the skin both before putting it on and when taking it off.
By following these simple rules, you will reduce the likelihood of a blackening oxide film. In any case, the reason for the blackening is not in gold, but in its alloys, and you still don’t want to wear jewelry made of pure gold.
Adding Impurities
People believe that the decoration begins to darken due to damage or the evil eye, but experts say that this is not so. Why is this happening? Sometimes gold leaves faint black traces due to the poor quality of the metal. Everyone knows very well that other metals (ligature) are also added to a gold product. If copper is present, it tends to oxidize. When it comes into contact with skin or oxygen, the product gradually begins to change color. The more copper added, the faster the jewelry will darken.
If you bought a gold item with a large amount of copper added, it is considered to be of poor quality and must be returned immediately to where it was purchased.
White gold is a chic and very expensive product to which silver or palladium is added. To create competition and a cheap price, nickel is sometimes added. This is the answer why gold turns black. It not only leaves marks on the body, but also on the product. In addition to the above, nickel can also cause severe allergies, which can cause itching in the place where the jewelry is worn.
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.
Sweating
There are several more options why gold darkens. If a person eats a lot of meat, then blackening is possible on the body. Many people do not believe in this factor, but in vain. Meat eaters produce sweat that contains nitrogen. When it comes into contact with gold, dark spots appear.
Sweat is produced not only due to nutrition, but also due to heavy drinking. Therefore, before asking experts why gold darkens, you need to pay attention to your health, both emotional and psychological.
Sweat is produced when a person is under extreme stress, has a cold, or lacks sleep. Its composition may also change. It all depends on various factors.
Some doctors provided their evidence as to why the jewelry darkens. If a person has diseased kidneys and liver, the gold on the body changes color. It can be either slightly gray or black.
Some consumers buy products as cheaply as possible. They think they can save a lot of money on this. Having bought, for example, cheap earrings, they begin to wonder: “why does gold darken?” The gold in the ears often darkens, since it is in this place that frequent dirt and sweat appear. That is why you should not buy cheap jewelry.
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.
Water
We still use chlorine to purify water. It is not for nothing that people are always warned before chlorination that the use of such water is not recommended. Even if you simply wash your hands under the tap at this time, darkening of your fingers under the rings may occur. It is also important to remove jewelry before going to the pool, since there is still a caustic element there, although in smaller quantities.
Salty seawater is also likely to cause black fingers. If you use sea salts for bath, you should be sure to skim off the gold.
How to avoid darkening of the skin
Rarely do dark marks remain on the neck from the chain; most often the skin under the ring turns black. To prevent jewelry from streaking, you need to follow simple rules:
- Buy jewelry only from stores you trust and ask for a quality certificate.
- Do not take gold with a purity lower than 585.
- Choose expensive alloys. White gold with nickel looks no worse than with platinum and palladium, but nickel allergies are common.
If you already have jewelry that has a habit of leaving black marks, try to identify the cause. If you take it to a salon for cleaning, you need to thoroughly rinse off the remaining polishing paste: rinse the jewelry several times in warm water, and the leather will stop turning black.
If the reason is a change in cosmetics, go back to the one in which the rings did not oxidize and did not stain your fingers. Don't forget to take care of your jewelry - wipe it often, take it off when bathing and cleaning.
Fakes
The high cost of gold is an excellent incentive for all sorts of scammers. The art of creating imitations amazes with its perfection. It is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish quality products from counterfeits.
The simplest and most widespread deception is the sale of gold-plated products. Over time, the coating is wiped off, the cheap metal begins to come into contact with the skin, which leads to the darkening of the finger under the ring.
- Read: How to determine the authenticity of gold
Choose reliable stores for expensive purchases. Avoid offers to buy gold inexpensively, “from hand”, while on vacation in exotic countries. Then you are guaranteed to save yourself from disappointment.
Now you know all the reasons why your finger under a gold ring turns black. Proper care of jewelry, eliminating all the factors outlined above, will save you from unnecessary worries and unnecessary worries.
Folk signs
- A negative impact, such as an evil eye or a curse directed at a person, is felt by the metal. Signal - blackening under the ring;
- Anxiety and despondency emanating from the personality also create dark streaks on the finger;
- Believers think that blackness appears after crimes or sins. The sign that appears seems to appeal to the conscience of the one who has stumbled, recalling the atrocities;
- The couple's wedding ring has turned black - unhappiness in marriage, sometimes even to the point of separation. To find out about the possible intervention of evil forces, they touch the face with a ring; a black stripe on the cheek means the machinations of a sorcerer. It is suggested to carry out a cleansing ritual to maintain a strong relationship.
Devout people advise going to church, saying prayers, or being sprinkled with holy water. But in modern times such superstitions are nothing more than fiction.
Read:
Why does a dog ride on its butt on the floor?
In esotericism, dark spots under the rings mean solar imbalance. To normalize balance and reduce the energy of the sun, you need to temporarily change your gold ring to a silver one. Silver is considered a lunar metal. You should stay less in the direct rays of the sun and away from fire.
There is a well-known myth that a thing retains an energetic connection with a person after being removed. In case of serious illnesses or serious dangers, the jewelry takes away part of the negative, turns black and “sick” along with the owner. In ancient times, travelers left a chain or ring for their relatives so that they would know the condition of the travelers.
Conclusion
Any darkening of leather and gold is associated with a chemical reaction, product quality or disease. A constant dark coating indicates low quality decoration. Cosmetics or perfumes contain chemical compounds, so gold worn on the body often turns black. Some creams are of very poor quality and the product reacts poorly to them. The color of the human body changes when nitrogen is released along with sweat. Then the gold comes into contact with the skin and begins to darken.
Experts say that all of the above processes occur not only from the quality of gold, but also from various impurities added to it. Black marks remain on the body, fingers, wrists or ears.
You should not put on a gold ring immediately after applying the cream. Let it soak in first, and then calmly put on the jewelry. Then the ring will not oxidize, even if a lot of copper is added to it.
When the jewelry begins to darken, a person doubts whether his product is real.
First, you need to pay attention to the state of your health, the cosmetics you use and the addition of impurities to your jewelry. Gold is considered the heaviest metal. Therefore, thanks to other alloys, jewelers reduce weight. Such gold is cheaper and more accessible to consumers.
