If you’ve ever bought jewellery for yourself, you know the disappointment of the piece eventually turning your finger, wrist or neck green. After that happens, the ring, bracelet or necklace is basically unwearable. Plus, that green mark isn’t always easy to clean off!
If you’re buying jewellery as a gift, I’m sure you want to avoid turning the recipient green.
Jewellery doesn’t turn green right away because there’s often another material over the base material of the piece. That eventually gets rubbed away and the base metal will make your skin turn green.
If you know what you’re buying, then you can avoid purchasing jewellery which will eventually tarnish and change the colour of your skin!
Why does jewellery go green?
Some jewellery will go green because the base metal reacts with oxygen and moisture. The moisture is in the air and comes from your skin.
That’s why some jewellery companies don’t want you to wear their pieces when you exercise, and advise cleaning your jewellery regularly.
What jewellery metals go green?
Copper
The only metal that actually turns your skin green is copper. Copper oxidises with lots of chemicals in the environment very quickly, which creates that green crust on the piece of jewellery which rubs off onto your skin.
Moisture in the environment, oxygen and sweat from your skin are key causes of copper oxidation.
The thing is, copper is alloyed in lots of different types of jewellery. So even if copper isn’t listed as a metal your jewellery is made from, it might be in there.
Brass
Brass is made from copper and zinc. It’s a great metal for making jewellery because it’s soft enough to make into cute shapes (like animal pendant) but not so soft that it will change shape when worn.
Often, brass jewellery is plated with gold or silver. When this eventually rubs off, you might find that this jewellery tarnishes.
However, brass plated jewellery is a wonderfully affordable way of buying jewellery for yourself or others.
If you enquire about the thickness of the plating, you might feel more comfortable buying it.
Plated Gold
Unfortunately, 14k and 18k gold is an alloy and is often mixed with copper. This means that there is a risk of even plated gold turning your skin green.
You can reduce the risk of gold jewellery turning your skin green by purchasing jewellery which has a higher gold content, such as 24k gold. You can also eliminate the risk of gold jewellery turning green by purchasing gold vermeil jewellery. However, this is a pretty expensive option.
Nickel
Horrible nickel!! Nickel causes jewellery to turn green and lots of people are allergic to it. We avoid it at all cost!
Summary
If you don’t want to risk your skin turning green, you should not buy jewellery which contains brass, nickel or has a low gold plating (like 14k). However, this jewellery is often very affordable.
Instead, you should shop for jewellery which is made from stainless steel (which doesn’t tarnish) or sterling silver (S925 or S999). Both are hypoallergenic and make a lovely gift, especially for teenagers.