Why does gold jewelry discolor?
After wearing for some time, many people found their gold jewelry begins to discolor or faded. Some people think it was caused by the insufficient purity of gold, so they went to the stores or consumers’ association to make complaints, but they were told that insufficient purity of gold is not the reason make it discolored. There are other reasons for discoloration of gold jewelry. So, what reason is this after all?
The discoloration of gold jewelry is closely related to people’s sweat. Ninety-nine percent of people’s sweat is water; an additional ten percent is waste and harmful substances in human body. Such as, chlorides, lactic acid, urea, ammonia, etc. It will create a chemical reaction when these waste or harmful substances contact with the copper or silver of gold jewelry. It can go on to silver chloride and Copper sulfide, showing a dark chemical salt. The chemical salts often fall off from the gold jewelry and pollute the skin of wearer’s, it will also leaves an apparent black smear on skin.