Silvering: Features and Technique

There are many jewelry items on the market, but some are more eye-catching. Blackened silver jewelry looks mysterious, intriguing and resembles antiques. Dark patterns in combination with sparkling fragments give the jewelry a special charm. Blacking can even be done at home with simple tools.

Mobile has long been used to decorate silver and gold products. Reception allows you to paint metal black. Contrast appears on the surface, which makes the product more “alive”. Reception is used in the presence of drawings or simple relief.

Blackening consists of an alloy of copper, sulfur, silver and lead, which is added to the base metal. The material is often used to create unusual jewelry in antique style. It makes no sense to apply blackening on a flat surface. First, processing, drawing a picture by recesses of about 0.3 mm in size. There and melts the mob.

When heated, silver and alloy interact at the chemical level. Due to this, decorative properties are paired with functional. Blackened silver darkens much more slowly from interaction with the environment, so you will have to clean it less often. It is worth noting that the mobile can be both dark and light. And jewelry with it can not be rubbed strongly, otherwise the alloy will begin to wear out.

Blackened silver is considered the most durable. Mobile quickly slips from gold, so this metal is not decorated with this method. If desired, silver can be coated with black, and free areas - gold. Visually, the product will not differ from the more expensive.

Known methods for making mobile are presented below.

• German. Lead slowly pours into a copper-silver alloy, the whole composition is constantly stirred. Further, the composition is poured into a heated sulfur powder. It is necessary to mix the metals constantly. This ensures a better chemical interaction. At this stage, the entire alloy is poured into water. The solidified black is finely rubbed in a porcelain mortar in the right amount. Only fresh and wet alloys are applied to the products.

• Modern Moscow. First, an alloy of copper, silver and lead is prepared. Sulfur powder is poured in small portions. Now the key difference: the composition is poured into a cast-iron pan. After solidification, the metal is crushed and melts again. This time the alloy is supplemented with sulfur and flux. To obtain a special quality mobile, the entire path is repeated three times.

• Pre-revolutionary Russian. A. G. Spassky invented this unusual method. Now his name is copyright. Silver, sulphurous lead and the same copper are prepared separately. Each component in a certain amount is added to the total capacity to create an alloy. Next, you need to melt the composition in a certain way and cool for future use.

No less interesting are the methods of applying compositions to jewelry. There are only two of them.

1. Dry. The surface is treated with a solution, from which it becomes wet. The most finely ground black powder is applied on top. After drying, the product is fired at a temperature of about 300-400 ° C.
2. Wet. Black mixed with water is applied to the surface in the form of porridge. The consistency resembles sour cream. Tightly and densely the composition is distributed over the product, filling all the recesses. Masters use brushes or small spatulas. It remains to wait for the evaporation of water and you can glow the surface in the muffle. There, the mob softens and flows into all cavities. The decoration is taken out of the oven. It is worth noting that small parts are heated using a soldering gun.

After covering in any way, the jeweler must clean the decoration with a scrap or use a file. As a result, the excess alloy is removed and a pattern appears. The background surface is decorated after blackening. Engraving or some small details are applied.

Fans of blackened silver should know such subtleties. Now it will be possible to determine the quality of the product on the shelf of your favorite jewelry store. If there are splashes, bumps or stains on the surface, then the master worked carelessly. Buying such a product is not worth it.

Preparing solutions from metals and making galvanic baths at home is not a good idea. The process requires skills, knowledge and inventory. However, to despair early, there are simple ways to make your favorite ring more attractive and interesting. Home technology is not just easy, but also does not require special investments. The methods are time-tested and popular among women due to their effectiveness.

This method is the most elementary and does not require much effort. Blacking with iodine is not suitable for flat products. There will be almost no result. There is one more nuance, for the reaction you need bright sunlight. Trying the method in cloudy weather or in winter just does not work.

You should not perceive all this as the shortcomings of the method, it's just its features. Embossed decorations on a clear day can be darkened by following the instructions.

1. In medical iodine, moisten a cotton swab.
2. To process a silver product. Particularly carefully wipe hard-to-reach fragments.
3. Leave the product in the sun until the iodine is completely dry.
4. Apply toothpaste to a soft cloth and gently polish the product.

The method is no more complicated than the previous one. A big plus will be that the eggs can be found in almost any refrigerator, you don’t even have to immediately run to the store. Blackening your favorite ring is very simple.

1. Boil 1-2 eggs. The exact amount depends on how many jewelery you plan to process.
2. Separate the yolk from the protein. The latter is not required for the procedure, so it can be used for any other needs.
3. Place the yolks in a container with an airtight lid, crush them thoroughly until gruel.
4. Put jewelry in the same container. It is important that the silver does not come into contact with the yolk. Otherwise, the metal will turn black too quickly and unevenly. The result is unlikely to please. The product can be hung or laid inside the container with a paper towel as a barrier.
5. Leave the container tightly closed for exactly 24 hours. If after a day the result is unsatisfactory, then you can keep it longer. Blackening is recommended no more than 3 days.
6. Remove the jewelry from the container. Rinse with any soap. Polish with a soft cloth.

The drug is used to treat scabies in humans and animals. Sulfur ointment is sold not only in a regular, but also in a veterinary pharmacy. The substance itself is thick, has a yellowish tint and an unpleasant odor. The procedure should be carried out, following the recommendations.

1. Apply black ointment to jewelry.
2. Armed with a hairdryer. Warm the ointment so that it starts to flow.
3. Already liquid substance is carefully distributed over the surface of silver. It is worth noting that as a result of heating, the metal will already begin to acquire a dark color with a blue or purple hue.
4. Use a soft cloth to completely wipe off the ointment from the decoration. If necessary, repeat the procedure to achieve a more impressive result.

It is quite simple to lighten silver after home blackening. Even the factory coating can be removed. There are a lot of ways, and all of them will take no more than 30 minutes.

1. In a pan, make a soda solution of medium concentration. Put foil and decorations there. Boil for 3–5 minutes. This method can clean tableware and other surfaces from any contaminants.
2. The softer method will allow you to easily remove home blackening, but for the factory one you have to repeat the process several times. It is necessary to take a small container of glass, put the decoration inside and pour in dishwashing detergent. As an alternative, hair shampoo is used.
3. A solution of ammonia will remove the black. It is enough to lower the jewelry into it for 1-2 hours. You can also moisten a cloth in ammonia and wipe off the composition.
4. Friction with a toothbrush of medium hardness will save the silver product from black. It is important to carry out cleaning actively and to obtain the desired result.

Blackened silver looks unusual, literally mesmerizing. When choosing it is worth considering the skin color of the owner. White-skinned girls are better suited to jewelry, where a light pattern is located on a dark background.

This decoration perfectly complements the evening look for the festive evenings. At the same time, products are combined with clothes in a business style, which is good for workdays. In everyday life, it is better to wear only one item. Consider interesting product examples.

• Neat earrings look deeper thanks to darkening. The product is perfect for daily use.

• The ring with roses literally catches your eye. A good addition to a festive outfit.

• The pendant in the form of a wild beast is small and light. Blackening adds volume to it.

• An intricate brooch will complement the evening look. The owner of the jewelry will definitely not be left without attention.

About the features and techniques for silver blackening, see the next video.