| While out shopping, you may have noticed silver | | | | silver jewelry with a hair dryer or other heating |
| jewelry that looks tarnished in the recessed areas. | | | | element, be sure to protect your countertop or |
| Were you mistaken to think a store would sell | | | | work area from the heat, you can scorch it. |
| tarnished jewelry? Well in fact it is quite the | | | | After both the Liver of Sulfur and jewelry item |
| fashion trend right now! | | | | are heated, dip a cotton swab into the solution |
| Oxidization refers to a process that naturally | | | | and gently dab it onto the silver jewelry. It should |
| takes place when silver is exposed to oxygen in | | | | turn a dark color upon contact. It may go through |
| the air. It can happen within a few days to a few | | | | several phases first beginning with green, then |
| months, depending on the environment, humidity, | | | | brown, then dark brown and finally black. You |
| and other factors. What do you do when you | | | | may have to re-heat the solution and jewelry |
| can't wait that long for your jewelry to oxidize? | | | | item several times to achieve the darkness you |
| You can speed up the process with oxidizers that | | | | desire. |
| are applied to jewelry, allowed to dry and then | | | | Another product on the market that oxidizes |
| polish away the excess on the raised portions of | | | | silver is Black Max (formerly Silver Black). It is |
| the jewelry item. | | | | much easier to use because you do not need to |
| Liver of Sulfur is one such oxidizing agent. It | | | | heat the solution or jewelry item. Simply dip your |
| comes in a powdered form, usually in chunks. It is | | | | cotton swab into the solution and apply to your |
| very toxic so be very careful when handling. Be | | | | jewelry item. It will turn black upon contact. |
| sure to use in a well-ventilated area and wear | | | | After your jewelry item is oxidized to the level |
| latex gloves. Do not allow the Liver of Sulfur to | | | | you desire, you need to polish away the excess. |
| touch your skin, if it does, rinse with soap and | | | | This will happen on any raised portions of your |
| water immediately. | | | | jewelry item, leaving the recessed areas dark. |
| Liver of Sulfur works best when it is heated. Mix | | | | You can use a Dremel handheld tool, polishing |
| together the Liver of Sulfur with a little water, stir | | | | bench, or manually with a silver polishing cream. |
| together and heat in the microwave for 5-10 | | | | Polish until you are pleased with the results, this |
| seconds. You just want to gently warm the | | | | may take a while if you are polishing it by hand, |
| solution, not cause it to boil over! Also heat the | | | | but the results will be worth it! |