Blackening silver: features and technique

There are many jewelry items on the market, but some are more eye-catching than others. Jewelry made of blackened silver looks mysterious, intriguing and reminiscent of antiques. Dark patterns combined with shiny fragments add a special charm to the piece. Blackening can even be done at home using simple tools.

Black has long been used to decorate silver and gold items. The technique allows you to paint the metal black. Contrast appears on the surface, which makes the product more "alive". The technique is used in the presence of drawings or simple relief.

Blackening consists of an alloy of copper, sulfur, silver and lead added to the base metal. The material is often used to create unusual antique-style jewelry. It makes no sense to apply blackening on a flat surface. First, processing is carried out, drawing a pattern by means of indentations of about 0.3 mm in size. This is where the rabble is melted.

When heated, silver and alloy interact chemically. Thanks to this, decorative properties are paired with functional ones. 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 mob can be either dark or light. And jewelry with it cannot be rubbed strongly, otherwise the alloy will begin to wear out.

Blackened silver is considered the most durable. Mobile quickly peels off gold, so this metal is not decorated with this method. If desired, silver can be covered with niello, and free areas with gilding. Visually, the product will not differ from the more expensive one.

The known methods of making the mobile are presented below.

• German. Lead is slowly poured into the copper-silver alloy, the whole composition is constantly stirred. Further, the composition is poured into a heated sulfur powder. In this case, it is necessary to stir the metals constantly. This guarantees the best interaction at the chemical level. At this stage, the entire alloy is poured into water. The frozen black is rubbed finely in a porcelain mortar in the right amount. Only fresh and wet alloy is 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 melted again. This time the alloy is supplemented with sulfur and flux. To obtain a special quality mob, the entire path is repeated three times.

• Pre-revolutionary Russian. A.G. Spassky came up with this unusual method. Now his name is copyright. Silver, lead sulphide and the same copper are prepared separately. Each component in a certain amount is added to the general container to create an alloy. Next, you need to melt the composition in a certain way and cool for further use.

No less interesting are the ways 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 maximum crushed black powder is applied on top. After drying, the product is fired at a temperature of about 300-400 ° C.
2. Wet. The mob mixed with water is applied to the surface in the form of porridge. The consistency is reminiscent of sour cream. The composition is densely and densely distributed over the product, filling all the recesses. Craftsmen use brushes or small spatulas. It remains to wait for the water to evaporate and you can heat the surface in the muffle. There the rabble softens and flows into all the hollows. The decoration is taken out of the oven. It is worth noting that small parts are heated with a soldering gun.

After coating in any way, the jeweler must clean the jewelry with scraping or use a file. As a result, the excess alloy will be removed and the pattern will appear. The background surface is decorated after blackening. Engraving or some small details are applied.

Lovers 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 streaks on the surface, it means that the craftsman was working carelessly. It is not worth purchasing such a product.

Preparing solutions from metals and making electroplating baths at home is not a good idea. The process requires skills, knowledge and inventory. However, it's too early to despair, there are simple ways to make your favorite ring more attractive and interesting. Home technology is not only easy, but also low on investment. The methods are time-tested and popular among women due to their effectiveness.

This method is the most basic and requires little effort. Iodine blackening is not suitable for flat products. There will be almost no result. There is one more nuance, for the reaction you need bright sunlight. Testing the method in cloudy weather or in winter simply won't work.

You should not take all this as disadvantages of the method, these are just its features. Embossed jewelry can be darkened on a clear day following the instructions.

1. Moisten a cotton swab in medical iodine.
2. Process a silver piece. Particularly careful to wipe hard-to-reach fragments.
3. Leave the product in direct sunlight until the iodine is completely dry.
4. Apply the toothpaste to a soft cloth and gently polish the product.

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

1. Boil 1-2 eggs. The exact amount depends on how many jewelry 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 a sealed lid, crush them thoroughly until they become gruel.
4. Put the decoration in the same container. It is important that the silver does not come into contact with the yolk. Otherwise, the metal will blacken too quickly and unevenly. The result is unlikely to please. The product can be hung or placed inside the container with a paper towel as a barrier.
5. Leave container tightly closed for exactly 24 hours. If after a day the result is unsatisfactory, then you can keep it longer. It is recommended to carry out blackening no more than 3 days.
6. Take the jewelry out of the container. Wash with any soap. Buff with a piece of 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. You need to carry out the procedure following the recommendations.

1. Apply black ointment to jewelry.
2. Arm yourself with a hairdryer. Warm up the ointment so that it starts to flow.
3. Spread the already liquid substance carefully over the surface of the 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 tint.
4. Use a soft cloth to completely wipe off the ointment from the jewelry. If necessary, repeat the procedure to achieve a more impressive result.

It is quite easy to lighten silver after homemade blackening. Even the factory cover can be removed. There are quite a few ways, and all of them will take no more than 30 minutes.

1. In a saucepan, make a medium-strength soda solution. Place the foil and decorations there. Boil for 3-5 minutes. This method can be used to clean tableware and other surfaces from any contamination.
2. A softer method will make it easy to remove homemade blackening, but for a factory one you will have to repeat the process several times. You need to take a small glass container, put the decoration inside and fill it with dishwashing detergent. Alternatively, use hair shampoo.
3. A solution of ammonia will remove the mobile. It is enough to lower the jewelry into it for 1-2 hours. You can also soak a cloth in ammonia and wipe off the composition.
4. Rubbing with a medium-hard toothbrush will remove the blackness from the silver piece. It is important to clean actively and until the desired result is obtained.

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

This decoration perfectly complements the evening look for festive evenings. At the same time, the products are combined with business-style clothing, which is good for working days. In everyday life, it is best to wear only one item. Let's consider interesting examples of products.

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

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

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

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

For the features and techniques of blackening silver, see the following video.