Gold blackening may sound surprising, considering that gold is known as one of the most durable precious metals and does not rust easily. It’s no wonder that gold jewelry is a favorite of many, both as an everyday accessory and a long-term investment.

Maybe you have experienced things like gold rings, necklaces, or bracelets that are often worn over time lose their luster and even look darker. Don’t immediately panic and think that the gold is fake or the quality has decreased. In fact, there are several natural factors that can cause gold to change color.

So, what exactly causes the blackening of gold? Can this be prevented or corrected? Don’t worry, in this article we will discuss in full the factors that make gold discolored, as well as effective ways to restore its shine to keep it looking like new. Check it out!

1. Sweat Turns Gold Black

During the daily use of gold, our bodies sweat, which causes the gold to react and cause a dark layer on its surface. That’s why some people experience gold blackening faster than others.

This is because the chemical reaction of sweat and mixed metals in gold, especially in low-grade gold, can cause gold to blacken. The more silver and copper content, the more likely the reaction is to occur. To prevent this, you can take small steps such as:

1. Remove jewelry when exercising or doing activities that make the body sweat a lot.
2. Routinely clean your jewelry with warm water and mild soap to remove any residual sweat.

2. Gold Blackens Due to Oxidation

Pure gold generally cannot react with air or moisture but there are other parts of gold that can react such as metals and silver that can react with oxygen to cause oxidation. This can make the gold blacken on its surface layer.

This oxidation reaction is usually accelerated by external factors such as air humidity, pollution and exposure to certain chemicals. Environments with high levels of pollution or humid air cause faster discoloration than drier, cleaner environments. Meanwhile, in order not to oxidize easily, you can take this step:

1. Store gold jewelry in a dry and closed place, such as a jewelry box with a cloth lining.
2. Clean gold regularly using a special jewelry cleaner or with a solution of warm water and baking soda.

3. Chemical Product Exposure

Do you often use perfume, lotion or soap without removing your jewelry? The chemicals in these products can accumulate on the surface of the gold and make it look dull or even blackened. The same goes for chlorinated swimming pool water.

Chemicals such as alcohol, sulphur, chlorine and ammonia often found in beauty products and household cleaners can react with the mixed metals in gold. If you often wear gold while swimming, the chlorine content in the pool water can accelerate oxidation and cause gold to blacken.

1. Remove jewelry before using skincare products such as lotion, perfume, or soap.
2. Avoid wearing gold when swimming in a swimming pool or when bathing in water that contains a lot of chromium
3. If gold is exposed to chemicals, rinse immediately with clean water and dry with a soft cloth.

So Treasury pals already know the reason for gold blackening because it would be unfortunate if the gold that should sparkle beautifully should be covered with a black layer. Moreover, the gold that Treasury pals intended for long-term investment although the price or value of gold does not decrease but will reduce its beauty. 

Well, if you want to invest in gold in a more practical, safe, and risk-free way, digital gold at Treasury is the right choice! With digital gold, you can invest anytime and anywhere, without having to worry about physical storage or maintenance.