Why does silver turn black?draft: text
It is not dirt and it is not poor quality. It is a chemical reaction, it can be reversed, and it is actually proof that the piece is real silver.
What happens
Silver reacts with sulphur. The air always contains small amounts of sulphur compounds, and when they meet the silver surface they form silver sulphide, which is black. It is called tarnish, and it is a surface layer, not something that eats into the metal.
It also tells you something: steel and plated jewellery do not react this way. A piece darkening means it really is silver.
Why it sometimes happens faster
- Humid air. A bathroom cabinet is the worst storage there is.
- Skin chemistry. Some people sweat more sulphur than others, and it varies with diet, medication and hormones.
- Perfume, hairspray, lotion and cleaning products.
- Chlorine. Take jewellery off before the pool.
- Wool, rubber bands and some woods give off sulphur and should not sit against silver.
- Food such as eggs and onions, which are high in sulphur.
The counterintuitive advice
Wear the piece. Silver that is used tarnishes more slowly than silver kept in a drawer, because skin and fabric lightly polish the surface every day. The piece saved for special occasions is the one that goes darkest.
Common questions
- Is it harmful to wear tarnished silver?
- No. Silver sulphide is a harmless surface layer. It affects neither the metal underneath nor your skin.
- Does tarnish mean poor quality?
- Quite the opposite. Tarnish shows that the metal is real silver. Plated jewellery and steel do not react the same way.