Intricate silver jewelry and other items often have their design highlighted by blackening or patination intentionally left in the deeper areas of the design. Chemical cleaners, ultrasonic treatments, and harsh cleaning sometimes remove these toned areas. A jeweler can restore the piece. But this is also something that, with a bit of care, you can do at home...

Traditionally, Liver of Sulfur is used to blacken recessed areas of Silver. It usually comes in a solid, but liquid is sometimes available. Unlike commercial blackeners or patination chemicals, it penetrates more deeply into the metal, and thus does not wear away as quickly. Here is the process...

1) the piece to be blackened must be clean and free of oxidation (tarnish), wax or oil. This ensures that the blackening will be even. If necessary, clean it and buff it so that nothing will impede contact of the solution with the metal surface. Don't touch the cleaned piece with your fingers, as oil from your skin can cause your fingerprints to be etched into the blackened metal, once it is placed into the solution. Wiping the piece down with alcohol before treating is a good precaution;

2) mix a couple of tablespoons of baking soda into 1-2 cups of cool water, and set aside;

3) in a separate container (use an old glass jar - don't use metal), dissolve a chunk of Liver of Sulfur in enough water to cover the item. Use very hot water (nearly boiling). One ounce of Liver of Sulfer usually yields about a quart of solution. Make only enough to use at one time, since the solution should not be reused;

4) before the mixture cools, dip your piece into the liquid. An old crock pot, or similar device can be used to keep the solution hot, but not boiling, when treating multiple pieces in batches;

5) when the Silver turns the desired shade of black, remove the Silver piece and thoroughly rinse the piece in the water that contains the baking soda;

6) use a polishing compound (e.g., Rottenstone or even non-fluoride toothpaste) on a slighly dampened cloth and lightly polish the black from the high spots. If the piece is large or complex, you may find a rotary buffing wheel - a Dremel-type rotary tool with a buffing wheel is fine - will save you a great deal of time. Be careful only to polish the high points where you want to expose the silver;

7) when the polished areas are to your satisfaction, rinse off any loosened tarnish and polishing compound;

8) dry and buff the piece using a coarse cloth (e.g., canvas or denim wrapped around a hard foam sponge will usually work).

Cautions:

• do not allow items to soak longer than necessary, since this can cause unwanted corrosion and will make the piece more difficult to polish. Remove and rinse the item as soon as the desired blackness is observed.
• avoid skin contact with either the dry Liver of Sulphur or with the solution. Thoroughly rinse if any solution accidentally drips on your skin or clothing.
• use only in a well ventilated area (vapors are both foul-smelling and may be harmful to some people).
• for your first project, you may want to experiment on a worn or damaged piece, just to help you gain confidence with the process.
• some purists do not like their antique or vintage items to be "restored," even if prior overcleaning has damaged the original finish. If in doubt, consult an expert for an opinion before treating these.
• do not use this process to re-tone cleaned coins that have numismatic value, as the process will decrease their worth to collectors. Worn or damaged coins (such as coins which have been drilled for jewelry) can be toned, if they are not rare varieties. If you believe that the coin might have some value, check your library for coin books with approximate prices.
• Liver of Sulphur is used in agriculture for treating soil, so you might think that disposing of the product would be easy enough. However, because different manufacturers of Liver of Sulphur use slightly different formulations, you should follow the manufacturer's instructions when disposing of used solution. Heavily used batches may also contain traces of various metals from the items which were treated.
• keep children and pets away from the Liver of Sulphur and the solution.

You can get Liver of Sulfer from some craft stores. Jewelry supply catalogs also stock this. Do an Advanced Search on eBay (title and description) for sources.

Alternatives to Liver of Sulfer

If you do not mind spending extra time, and the possibility of getting uneven results, you can chop up a hard-boiled egg and place it into a plastic bag along with the Silver item to be blackened. Do not allow the egg to come into contact with the Silver piece. Seal the bag and check every day or two until toned to the desired shade. You may need to turn the item during this process to get an even color. As with the Liver of Sulphur treatment, be careful not to touch the item with your fingers before sealing into the bag, or when turning. Once you are satisfied, remove the item and polish the portions where you want the Silver metal to show.

Another method is to bring your Silver with you to the nearest Sulphur hot spring or spa, and have a nice long, healthful soak while your items darken. Not practical for most of us, but much more fun.

Other subjects on which I've written recent Guides...
Coin Collecting
Gemstones

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