How to Oxidize Silver Jewelry

This raised silver on this oxidized ring has been polished, creating a defined contrast within the design.

Every material on this planet breaks down over time. For silver, this process is called oxidization. Over time silver bonds with oxygen, creating a dark patina similar to rust. Antique jewelry will blacken from oxidization if it is not regularly polished. Many jewelry artisans like to add an oxidized patina to their jewelry. This can be accomplished by applying liver of sulfur to the silver. In addition to creating the antiqued, black patina, liver of sulfer can create a rainbow-colored patina on silver. Experimentation with the oxidization of silver will result in a wide range of colors, shades and designs.

Things You'll Need

• Liver of sulfur
• Silver jewelry
• Baking soda
• 2 bowls
• Water
• Heat source
• Rubber gloves
• Tweezers
• Wire
• Rag
• Toothbrush
• Silver polishing cloth

Instructions

Prepare the Workspace

1. 

   Heated sulfur produces a smell like rotten eggs.

   Clean all oil, dirt and fingerprints off of your silver piece. Use a mild detergent and a fingernail brush or toothbrush to get into recessed areas. Rinse thoroughly, and only touch the silver with gloved hands to prevent natural body oils from adhering to its surface.

2. Choose which type of patina you want to create add to your silver jewelry. An antiqued patina requires a very hot liver of sulfur solution and rainbow patinas are achieved with a moderate temperature solution.

3. Create the liver of sulfur solution. Depending on what type of liver of sulfur you are using (stabilized gel, liquid, pellets or powder) follow the manufacturer's directions for the water and sulfur ratio.

4. Create a neutralizing solution with cold water and baking soda. Add 1/4 cup baking soda for each cup of cold water.

Oxidize Your Silver Jewelry

1. 

   Gemstones can be immersed in liver of sulfur, except porous stones like pearls and opals.

   Dip your silver jewelry into the liver of sulfur solution. Use a bent wire or tweezers for this step. Do not leave the jewelry soaking for extended periods of time because the patina will become too thick and chip of flake later.

2. Leave the silver immersed in the liver of sulfur solution until it reaches the desired color or until 15 seconds have passed. Do not leave it immersed for more than 15 seconds.

3. Remove the silver jewelry from the liver of sulfur solution and place it in the cold water neutralizing solution. It should rest here for at least one minute to stop the oxidization process.

4. Dip the silver jewelry into the liver of sulfur solution again to increase the darkness of the patina. Continue moving the silver jewelry from the liver of sulfur solution to the neutralizing solution until you achieve your desired patina.

Preserve the Patina

1. 

   Polishing silver jewelry can be done with many tools.

   Use a silver polishing cloth, wire brush or very fine jeweler's sandpaper to remove unwanted patina. This process is commonly used to polish the raised silver.

2. Protect the patina by placing a sealant on the silver jewelry. There are two popular sealants for silver patina: a natural beeswax sealant and a jewelry laquer. The beeswax sealant comes in a paste form while the laquer is spray-on.

3. Allow the silver jewelry piece adequate time to dry after the sealant has been applied. If this jewelry item is worn often, the sealant will need to be reapplied at a later time.

Tips & Warnings

• Experiment with the oxidization process to get different and unique results.

• Add a small amount of ammonia (1 tbsp. per cup of liver of sulfur solution) to increase the rainbow colors in the patina.

• Sulfur is used on matches to ignite flame. If you are using a powder or tablet form of sulfur, keep it away from any flames.

References

• Hodgepodgerie: Liver of Sulfur Patina
• Fire Mountain Gems: Ask the Experts: Oxidized, Metal, Sealant

Resources

• Holly Gage: Beauty and the Beastly Smell: Liver of Sulphur