Jewelry gone dark or leaving a green mark? What to do

If a piece no longer looks the way it did in the store 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 jewelry 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 jewelry 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 color: plating wears first on the edges, the clasps and the inside of a ring – wherever there's friction.

• If the color 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 jewelry 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 jewelry on, not after.
• Ultrasonic cleaners and bicarbonate of soda pastes. They're too harsh for fashion jewelry.

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 jewelry so it never gets to that point is covered on our jewelry 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 color reaction on the skin and washes off with water.

Can you clean fashion jewelry with toothpaste?

No. Toothpaste is abrasive and scratches the plating off, even if the piece looks shinier at first.

Can you wear jewelry 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.