Blackened (or oxidized) jewelry is beautiful! It's bold, stunning and really gives gemstones and gold a contrasting POP! But, (rings especially) the oxidation fades quickly. So, how did the silver get such a nice black color in the first place? How can you get that back? I've got you! Here's a quick little video and infographic to help you do this at home!
Materials:
- soap (dish soap is best)
- glass cup
- plastic tongs or paintbrush with wood or plastic handle
- Liver of Sulphur Extended Life Gel (you can get it on Amazon here)
- polishing cloth
- toothbrush or similar brush
Important Considerations:
- do this in a ventilated area
- follow safety on the bottle (don't eat it, get it in your eye or on your skin...)
- don't do this to pieces with soft or fragile stones (like Pearls or Opals)
- there are a lot of beauty products that have sulphur in them and you might not have to order any! (the Proactive Mask has enough sulphur to oxidize your jewelry!)
- don't put any metal other than your jewelry in the sulphur solution
- only put silver and gold jewelry in the solution (silver will turn black and gold will darken)
Step 1: WASH
You need to get all the oil and dirt off your jewelry. Gently scrub your piece with warm soapy water and a toothbrush. If a piece is particularly dirty, you can soak it for a few minutes first. Rinse off your piece and dry it.
Step 2: MIX
Screw the top off the sulphur (*pro tip: don't use the lid's pour spout-it's terribly messy.) Dip the end of your paintbrush or tongs into the sulphur and mix it in about half a cup of tap hot water. Don't get any water in the bottle, it'll shorten the shelf life of your sulphur. You want the color to be darker than a lemon peel.
Step 3: SOAK
Gently drop your cleaned jewelry in the solution and set a timer. Check on your piece about every 5 minutes until you like the color. Don't leave soaking without checking on it, you might get it too dark and it will ruin the finish on your silver.
Step 4: RINSE
Once you've got the color you want, take your piece out and give it a good rinse and even a quick scrub with the soapy water again. If you'd like, you can dry it off and give it a quick buff with a polishing cloth to add some lovely luster!
Step 5: DISPOSE
Rinse your sulphur solution down the drain with plenty of water and enjoy your refurbished jewelry!
 