14K gold is popular in the jewelry industry because of its moderate price and good durability. However, many wearers may notice that sometimes their 14K gold accessories can turn their skin green. This phenomenon has triggered a wide range of discussions and questions. This article aims to explore why 14K gold causes skin discoloration and how to avoid it.
What is 14K gold?
14K gold refers to an alloy containing 58.5% pure gold. The rest is made up of other metals, such as silver, copper, zinc, etc. These additional metals not only increase the hardness of gold, but also make it more wear-resistant, making it ideal for everyday wear.
Why Gold is Alloyed?
Cherished for its gorgeous luster, corrosion resistance, and hypoallergenic nature, gold is too soft to be utilized in its pure form. Whether it’s jewelry-making or dentistry, gold is alloyed with other metals, mainly silver and copper, to create a stronger and more durable alloy.
While gold alloys are easy to work with, they also exhibit different colors based on their composition. For example, white metals like palladium, nickel, zinc, or silver are added to 24K yellow gold to create a white gold alloy.
When comparing 14K gold to 24K gold, 14K gold is much harder and has exceptional scratch resistance, whereas 24K gold is a malleable metal prone to dents and scratches.
Read more about gold karats to get a better idea of the properties and applications of gold alloys.
The reason why 14K gold turns green
Chemical reaction
The reason why 14K gold can cause skin to turn green is mainly because its non-gold components, especially copper, react chemically with salts, sebum and other chemicals in sweat. This reaction produces a green copper salt compound called patina.
Individual difference
Not everyone experiences green skin. This is because everyone's body chemistry is different. For example, some people's sweat contains higher chloride concentrations, which may speed up the patina formation process. In addition, the pH of the skin may also affect the occurrence of this chemical reaction.
Environmental Factors
When silver and copper are exposed to moisture, they react with oxygen, causing silver to tarnish and copper to corrode.
While silver is immune to corrosion and copper corrodes at insignificant rates, polluted air can accelerate the process.
In areas with sulfur-containing gases ( particularly hydrogen sulfide ) in the air, silver and copper deteriorate more rapidly, forming a layer of tarnish and developing a green color.
What causes the green discoloration?
As discoloration, in general, isn’t commonly observed in 14K jewelry, many still don’t know what the culprit for the green tarnish is. It’s not silver, and it’s definitely not gold.
The culprit is copper! Copper is the cause of discoloration in low-purity gold jewelry.
Role of Copper
Despite the fact that 14K gold doesn’t tarnish, copper in 14K gold can react with moisture and acids, leading to a green discoloration.
Scientifically speaking, copper reacts with oxygen in the air to form copper oxide. Then, copper oxide reacts with carbon dioxide and water, forming a coating with a blue-green patina color on a 14K gold surface.
As a result, 14K gold will not only change its color, but jewelry may also turn your skin green. This is especially common for gold rings, as people often forget to take them off when doing household chores.
Other Alloy Materials
While copper is the primary source of green discoloration, other alloy metals can also contribute to the process.
For example, silver tarnishes when exposed to humid environments, changing its color to yellow, red-brown, or blue.
Real case analysis
Case 1: A customer reported that one of her 14K gold necklaces occasionally turned her skin green when worn in the summer. Further investigation revealed that this was because she often wore the necklace in hot weather, and the salt in her sweat reacted with copper.
Case 2: Another customer reported that her 14-karat gold ring began to fade and turn her fingers green in less than a year. Analysis showed that the gold coating gradually peeled off due to daily wear and tear, exposing the underlying metal and causing skin discoloration.
How to prevent 14K gold from turning green
Maintenance advice
Regular cleaning: Use mild soapy water and a soft cloth to gently wipe the gold jewelry and avoid using cleaners containing corrosive chemicals.
Dry storage: Store gold jewelry in a dry place, preferably wrapped in a moisture-proof bag to reduce the chance of oxidation.
Precautions for wearing
Avoid chemicals: Do not spray perfume or use skin care products before wearing gold jewelry, as the chemicals in it may react with the gold.
Reduce sweat exposure: Try to avoid wearing 14K gold jewelry while exercising or sweating to reduce the risk of skin discoloration.
Conclusion
14K gold does have the potential to cause skin to turn green, especially if the copper content is high. However, by taking appropriate maintenance measures and paying attention to wearing habits, the occurrence of this phenomenon can be significantly reduced. It is also wise to choose 14K gold instead of gold, as the former is more durable and does not discolor easily. All in all, knowing the characteristics of 14K gold and taking the proper precautions will allow you to enjoy the beauty of gold jewelry without worrying about skin discoloration.
