Jewellery gone dark or leaving a green mark? What to do
Why fashion jewellery goes dark, why it can leave a green mark on your skin and when the plating really has worn off. Everyday care steps are on a separate page.
If a piece no longer looks the way it did in the shop after a few months, there's almost always one of three reasons behind it. Here's how to tell them apart and what to do about each. The everyday care routine is set out on our jewellery care page.
The piece has gone darker
A darker tone usually means residue rather than damage: sweat, cream and moisture in the air leave a thin film on the surface.
Wipe it off with a soft, dry cloth. If the tone comes back, the piece is fine – it just needs wiping more often.
It leaves a green mark on your skin
A green mark isn't an allergy, and it isn't a sign that the piece is poor quality. It appears when an alloy containing copper comes into contact with sweat – the reaction happens on your skin, not in the metal.
It's more common in summer, with rings, and for people who keep their jewellery on during sport. If it bothers you, choose a steel base or thicker plating.
The plating is starting to wear off
You can tell by where it happens rather than by the colour: plating wears first on the edges, the clasps and the inside of a ring – wherever there's friction.
- If the colour has changed evenly – it's residue, and it can be cleaned off.
- If a patch of a different tone has appeared on an edge – it's wear, and it can't be restored.
- If the piece has become rough – a chemical cleaner is usually to blame, not age.
What damages jewellery fastest
- Pool and sea water. Chlorine and salt attack plating faster than everyday wear does.
- Perfume and hairspray. Spray them on before you put your jewellery on, not after.
- Ultrasonic cleaners and bicarbonate of soda pastes. They're too harsh for fashion jewellery.
When a piece is no longer worth saving
If the plating has worn through to the base metal over a large area, it can't be restored at home. It's better to replace a piece like this than to try polishing it – polishing removes whatever plating is left.
How to clean and store your jewellery so it never gets to that point is covered on our jewellery care page.
Frequently asked questions
Does a green mark mean I'm allergic?
No. An allergy shows up as itching and redness. A green mark is a colour reaction on the skin and washes off with water.
Can you clean fashion jewellery with toothpaste?
No. Toothpaste is abrasive and scratches the plating off, even if the piece looks shinier at first.
Can you wear jewellery in the shower?
A steel piece will cope with a quick shower. But soap builds up in clasps and under stones, so it's not worth doing regularly.
