Your wedding ring is likely one of your most treasured possessions. It symbolizes the love and commitment between you and your significant other. But, it can be concerning when your wedding ring starts to change colors. Maybe it’s turning yellow, green, or even black. Regardless of the color change, it’s important to understand why this is happening and what you can do about it. In this post, we’ll discuss the common reasons why wedding rings turn colors and provide solutions to keep your ring looking as new as the day you got it.
What Causes Wedding Rings to Change Colors?
There are several common reasons why wedding rings can change shades. Let’s take a look at why this happens.
Metal Allergies
Some individuals can have an allergic reaction to the metal used in their wedding ring. Common metals include gold, silver, and platinum. The metal can cause a rash, irritation, and even discoloration. If you have a metal allergy, consider getting a hypoallergenic ring or one made from a different type of metal.
Chemicals
Wedding rings come in contact with a lot of chemicals every day. Chemicals can come from cleaning products, lotions, shampoos, and even sweat. When these chemicals mix with the metal, it can cause the ring to turn colors. To avoid this, take off your ring when using chemicals or apply lotion or perfume after taking off your ring.
Skin Acids
The acidity levels in everyone’s skin are different. Unfortunately, these acids can also cause wedding rings to change colors. In some individuals, the acidity can cause rings to tarnish, turn black, or even corrode. To help prevent this, remove your ring before washing your hands or doing any other activity that involves getting your hands wet.
Wear and Tear
The more you wear your wedding ring, the more likely it is to experience normal wear and tear. The rhodium plating on white gold rings can wear away, causing the metal to yellow. This is a natural process that happens with time and use.
How to Keep Your Wedding Ring from Changing Colors
Now that you know some of the common reasons why wedding rings turn colors, let’s discuss some preventive measures you can take to keep your ring looking as good as new.
Clean Your Ring Regularly
To keep your wedding ring in top shape, it’s important to clean it regularly. You can do this at home using a soft-bristled toothbrush and mild soap. Gently scrub the ring and rinse it under warm water. Do not use harsh chemicals or scrub too hard, as this can damage your ring.
Remove Your Ring When Necessary
To avoid exposing your ring to harsh chemicals, take it off when doing any activities that involve chemicals or water. This includes washing dishes, swimming, and even showering. Removing your ring can help prevent discoloration caused by chemicals or skin acid.
Choose Alternative Metals
If you have a metal allergy, consider a hypoallergenic ring made from alternative metals such as titanium, tungsten, or stainless steel. These metals are less likely to cause an allergic reaction.
Upgrade Your Ring Material
Consider upgrading your wedding ring to a higher-quality metal. Platinum is a durable metal that is less likely to tarnish or corrode. It’s also hypoallergenic, making it a great option for individuals with metal allergies.
Get Your Ring Professionally Cleaned
If you notice your ring changing colors, bring it to a professional jeweler for cleaning. They can inspect the ring for any damage and clean it safely and effectively.
Conclusion
Your wedding ring is a symbol of your love and commitment. Keeping it looking its best requires proper care and maintenance. By following these tips, you can help prevent your wedding ring from changing colors and maintain its original luster. Remember to clean your ring regularly, remove it when necessary, and consider upgrading the material of your ring if you have a metal allergy. If you notice your ring changing colors, don’t hesitate to bring it to a professional for cleaning and inspection. With proper care, your wedding ring will continue to shine for years to come.
FAQ
Is discoloration from rings bad?
When you wear rings or other jewelry made of yellow or rose gold, you may notice discoloration on your skin. While this might seem concerning at first, it is actually a completely normal and harmless side effect of wearing jewelry.
The most common cause of skin discoloration from gold jewelry is metallic abrasion. When you wear your ring, the metal of the band rubs against your skin, and over time, this friction can cause small amounts of the metal to be deposited onto your skin. This process is completely normal and occurs with any metal jewelry, not just gold.
While metallic abrasion can cause discoloration, it does not mean that your ring is of poor quality or that it is damaging your skin. In fact, gold is one of the least reactive metals, so it is unlikely to cause any kind of skin irritation or allergic reaction.
If your skin discoloration bothers you, there are a few things you can do to minimize it. Firstly, make sure that you are keeping your jewelry clean. Gold is relatively easy to clean, and regular cleaning can help to prevent any buildup that might contribute to discoloration. You may also want to consider taking your ring off at night or for extended periods of time to give your skin a chance to breathe.
Skin discoloration from wearing gold jewelry is not a cause for concern. It is simply a natural side effect of wearing metal against your skin. With proper care and maintenance, you can minimize the discoloration and continue to enjoy your gold jewelry for years to come.
Are color changing rings real?
Color changing rings, also known as mood rings, have been a popular fashion accessory for decades. Mood rings gained popularity in the 1970s and have been a staple of fashion ever since. These rings are often marketed as a way to tell the wearer’s emotional state. The question arises, are color changing rings real?
To understand the answer, we need to know how mood rings work. Mood rings featured fake gemstones that were usually made of either glass or quartz. The glass or quartz “stones” were usually hollow shells filled with liquid crystals. These special crystals were thermochromic, which means they would change color in response to changes in temperature.
When worn, the mood ring’s liquid crystals are in contact with the skin, and the ring’s metal band absorbs the wearer’s body heat, which then causes the crystals to change color. The color change on the ring is said to represent the wearer’s emotional state. For example, blue represents calm or relaxed, green represents relaxed or comfortable, while yellow represents anxious or nervous.
Mood rings are considered “real” in that they change color based on the wearer’s temperature. However, the color changes on mood rings do not represent the wearer’s emotional state, but rather their physical state. Mood rings are not a reliable way to measure emotions, but are still considered a fun fashion accessory.
Why is my wedding ring all of a sudden turning my finger black?
It is not uncommon for individuals to notice discoloration on their skin, specifically the finger surrounding their wedding ring. This discoloration usually appears as a black or green mark and can be caused by a few different factors. The most common cause of this discoloration is due to the reaction between metals in the wedding ring, specifically gold, with chemicals that are commonly found in the environment, such as sulphur and chlorine.
When gold is mixed with other metals, it creates an alloy that is used to make jewelry. Gold itself is a very soft metal and can wear down over time, which is why it is mixed with other metals to create a more robust material. However, when gold comes in contact with chemicals like sulphur and chlorine, a chemical reaction occurs that can cause the metal to corrode and turn black. This reaction can, in turn, cause the skin underneath the ring to discolor and turn black as well.
Sulphur is found in a multitude of household products, including cleaning supplies, beauty products, and even in our own body. Sulphur can react with gold jewelry under certain conditions, causing the metal to tarnish and turn black. Chlorine is another chemical that is commonly found in our environment, and it can also impact the quality of gold jewelry. Chlorine is present in swimming pools, cleaning products, and even tap water, and can cause gold jewelry to turn black if exposed for an extended period.
The discoloration of the skin surrounding a wedding ring is most commonly caused by a reaction between gold and environmental chemicals like sulphur and chlorine. If you notice black discoloration on your ring finger, you may want to consider having your wedding ring cleaned to remove any build-up, and avoid wearing the jewelry for extended periods to limit exposure to environmental chemicals. Additionally, choosing a ring made from a pure or higher quality gold alloy and avoiding contact with chemicals may also help prevent this type of discoloration from occurring.