Blackened silver there are two types. One is formed naturally, the other - factory-made, in the hands of. Intentionally changing the type of metal in Russia became widespread in the 17th century. Became a brand blackened silver from Veliky Ustyug.

This is where folk craft originated. An extensive exhibition of products by craftsmen from Ustyug is presented in the State Ethnographic Museum. One of the exhibits is a cast cross. It is not only made of and blackened, but also gilded. Such jewelry was in use in the European part of the country in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Blackened silver and its types

Blackened silver is obtained due to the reaction of the metal with sulfur. It is found in microdoses in the air. But, the main part of the substance is released with human sweat. If there is jewelry on the body at this time, it becomes covered with an oxide film. It is dark, which is why it is called rabble.

Pure silver is almost inert to sulfur, the reaction occurs slowly. As a rule, products made from precious metal alloys darken quickly. The standard for jewelry is -th.

This test assumes the presence of only 92.5% silver in the product. The rest is . It is mixed so that the alloy is hard, wear-resistant, and easy to accept. different shapes. Side effect: mob.

Copper is less resistant to sulfur and reacts with it faster. The more non-ferrous metal in a product, the faster it turns out blackened silver. Decorations 925 grade is coated with film more slowly than tableware, which is cast from 800 grade metal, that is, with an 80 percent content of the valuable element.

Deliberately blackened silver products are made to obtain samples that resemble vintage, antique ones. Under natural conditions, it takes time for the oxidation film to form, so tarnished jewelry is perceived as jewelry with history. In addition, specially applied niello can change the surface texture of the metal and make it more refined.

Blackened silver in the online store, or a simple interior, can be clean, 999 purity. How does it change color without copper in its composition? It is on the surface of the jewelry.

Copper or lead oxides are applied 100% in the right places. They are usually melted. Only dark traces remain from the granules, securely grasped with the base - the jewelry.

Any shop blackened silver puts up for sale at higher prices than usual. Tarnished jewelry looks exquisite and requires additional processing. This affects the cost. Experts distinguish directly between blackened metal and oxidized metal.

The latter is covered with a thin film. It is easy to wash off when cleaning, and the color is not so contrasting to the base. Industrial processing involves applying a thick decorative layer. It is coal black and removing it from the product is not an easy task.

Methods for blackening silver

Jewelers offer buy blackened silver, made in 3 ways. The first is galvanic. Metal oxides are deposited on jewelry in special baths by electrolysis. One charge is created along the perimeter of the container, and another charge is created on the alloy.

Plus and minus attract, resulting in the final product. This method is designed for producing large batches of products. They will not make a galvanic bath if one needs to be darkened bracelet.

Blackened silver at home, in small workshops, as a rule, they are obtained mechanically. They take graphite and mix it with turpentine and iron oxide. The “gruel” of reagents is evenly applied to the base and wait until the niello dries.

Afterwards, wipe the product with a cloth and polish the protruding areas. Instead of polishing, sometimes they simply wipe the metal with alcohol. Dark oxide remains in the recesses. Its adhesion to the surface of the decoration is minimal. Such blackened silver rings, , or a necklace can be easily returned to its original appearance.

The last method of blackening is chemical. He is the most effective. This is the same method when a mixture of oxides is placed on the base and heated, allowing them to adhere to the product.

But this is not complete chain». Blackened silver, obtained chemically, suggests another “link”. This is the engraving of metal before placing reagents on it. They are placed in recesses specially made by the master.

There is a 4th way to obtain aged metal. His masters do not indicate. The method is not for specialists, but for amateurs, used exclusively at home. For example, I want blackened silver earrings, but there are only ordinary ones. They are suspended by a thread in a plastic container.

Close it tightly, placing half a boiled egg on the bottom. In sealed conditions, hydrogen sulfide vapors emitted from food will blow through. The reaction requires at least 30 minutes. So you can even get blackened silver with stones. But, after the insertion procedure you will have to wipe it down.

Cleaning blackened silver

How to clean blackened silver? No way. The beauty of antiqued items is that they do not require polishing. However, decorations require cleaning from grease and accumulated dust. To avoid removing dirt while removing dirt, use canvas rags.

They gently wipe the surface of jewelry. Harsh chemicals are not what you should clean with. blackened silver. Photo, boiled in boiling water, also do not inspire optimism. The mob disappears.

There are several types of silver niello, each of them has its own characteristics, and some types of niello are not quite so black.

Blackening with whiteness

For example, there is a folk method of blackening silver, in which in a bowl with white put the products in and boil for several minutes, the product takes on a black-graphite velvet color, such niello does not hold up very well and may peel off over time.

Blackening with sulfur ointment

Also very popular, quite simple and effective is the method of blackening silver with sulfur ointment.

Blackening with “sulfur liver”

To do this, you need to use a mixture of sodium polysulfides (Na 2 S n; in the old days it was called “sulfur liver”). To obtain sulfur liver, you need to mix sulfur with soda, and then solder it by burning this mixture (when burned, a very poisonous and caustic gas is released). Then the resulting homogeneous mass must be placed together with silver items in hot water and held over the fire for several minutes, trying not to bring to a boil, periodically removing from the heat, and looking “by eye” at the level of blackness of the items. Afterwards we wash, dry and get a high-quality black coating.

ATTENTION! When choosing this method, there MUST be a powerful exhaust hood in the room where the blackening process will take place, because... when creating a sulfur liver, and also, but to a lesser extent, when boiling water with a sulfur liver, a large amount of hydrogen sulfide (POISONOUS GAS) is released.

Other means for blackening silver items

Removing mobile

You can find out how to clean silver from simple blackening.

Recently, various blackened silver products have been presented on the market. This metal is durable, inexpensive, and it is suitable for any age. Silver itself (in its pure form) is practically not used by jewelers. Craftsmen choose its alloys to make jewelry.

Blackened silver jewelry

Copper is mainly added to silver alloys. As a result, the product becomes hard, acquires good anti-corrosion characteristics, and improves its appearance. In the Russian Federation, jewelers work only with a few stamps, the passport of the product. She talks about the amount of pure silver in the product. 925 standard suggests 92.5% of the metal itself, the remaining 7.5% being various impurities. There are several types of silver, such as blackened silver.

Varieties of silver

In silver At the moment, the following types of this metal are distinguished: filigree, matte, blackened, coin. Each species has its own specific characteristics.

Matte silver does not have bright patterns. To obtain it, various emulsions are applied to the raw materials. The use of emulsions allows you to make the surface rough and give it additional charm. The product turns out to be original, beautiful, unusual.

The distinctive characteristics of filigree silver are the various openwork patterns. Since silver has high malleability and strength, thin threads are made, giving the product a beautiful and unusual design. Making filigree silver requires professionalism and takes quite a lot of time. Jewelers highlight background and openwork filigree. For an openwork look, a through pattern is implied.

It is the main material used in jewelry. This material has a smooth surface, silver-white color, excellent strength, and a long service life. The sterling material contains 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper.

Blackening technology

Since ancient times, craftsmen have tried to decorate their products (weapons, jewelry, dishes) with ornaments, drawings, and unusual patterns. Technologies for applying ornaments have changed and improved. Blackened using special technology. It is used in the processing of jewelry, as well as in applied arts. In Rus', blackening has developed since the mid-20th century. Unique rings made of blackened silver, made by craftsmen from Veliky Ustyug (Vologda region), were in demand. In the 18th and 19th centuries, dishes, cigarette cases, and trays were made using a similar technology. Master jewelers mastered numerous subtleties of the craft, but they did not pass on their knowledge, and therefore some of the nuances were lost. Blackened silver was quite expensive, so only wealthy people could afford such products. The essence of blackening was to coat pure metal with black. The product became embossed and acquired a refined appearance.

Features of blackening

This technology is aimed at obtaining unusual patterns on the product. A special technology has been developed that produces blackened silver at home. First, the jewelry is engraved or minted, then a special solution is applied to it, including oxides of lead, copper, and silver. The surface of the product must be clean; all grease stains must first be removed from it. To melt the solution, the product is heated. As a result, a beautiful black pattern appears on the silver surface.

Benefits of blackened silver

Such products have numerous advantages. This material does not require additional cleaning and retains its aesthetic appearance. Such an alloy also has certain limitations. Boiling with soda, for example, removes blackening. Dishes created using this technology have long been used to store valuables, amulets, and elixirs. In ancient times, the bactericidal properties of blackened silver were considered a manifestation of magic. People sincerely believed that blackened silver protected against failure and evil spirits.

Metal oxidation

Currently, many products similar to natural blackening are made using oxidation. Today it is difficult to buy real blackened silver. The jewelry offered on jewelry store shelves is mostly created by coating a silver item with a thin oxide film. Over time, it wears off and the jewelry loses its shine. Real earrings made of blackened silver have a fairly high price. When the cost of 1 gram of ordinary silver is 30-40 rubles, the price for 1 gram of blackening increases 10 times. Such jewelry has a high cost due to manual labor and individual work of the master.

When choosing a product made of blackened silver, you need to carefully inspect the jewelry, check the presence and quality of the mark, and also get acquainted with the accompanying documents for the product. In Rus' there was a belief according to which silver dishes with blackening protect the family life of the owner of the house. If household items were lost, great misfortune awaited the owner of the house and its inhabitants. Blackened silver was used to make coins, rings, earrings, bracelets, and amulets.

Currently, jewelers are trying to combine silver in jewelry with semi-precious or precious stones. Natural emeralds, rubies, garnets, and pearls are used as such “additives.” If gold adds age to a person, then silver, on the contrary, rejuvenates. It can be worn by women of any age. Jewelry with precious inserts is suitable for special occasions: receptions, presentations. For everyday wear, you can choose items made of blackened silver that do not have inserts.

A lot of ways to create dark patterns on silver have accumulated over hundreds of years, because such silver has always had respect and honor among different layers of society. To make silver black, it is necessary to achieve the effect of deposition of silver sulfide on the surface of the product. You can do this in the following ways:

• Mechanical method. This is the simplest way, for which you will need graphite mixed with iron oxide and turpentine. The substance in the form of a paste is applied to silver items, wait until completely dry and remove from the surface with a suede cloth or a soft brush. Then the protruding places are wiped with alcohol, and an artificially aged silver product is obtained;
• Chemical method. It is the most effective and durable and involves filling the engraved parts of the product with a mixture of silver sulfide. Powder made of silver, copper, lead, and sulfur in different proportions is placed in the recesses of the pattern. The silver object is heated until the mixture dissolves and turns black. Then the product is polished and sanded. On a light background, dark patterns of any complexity are obtained;
• Galvanic method. It is used in large industries and requires special equipment.

You can blacken silver at home; for this you will need affordable components that can always be found at home or can be easily purchased in a store. For blackening using one of the common methods, you will need an egg, a tightly closed plastic container, thin thread, fishing line or rope. Before the process, you should thoroughly clean the silver from dirt, boil the egg and cut it into two halves. Then parts of the egg are placed in the container, and a silver item is hung on a rope for blackening. The product is left under a hermetically sealed lid for half an hour or longer.

From time to time, the silver needs to be turned to ensure uniform formation of blackness. The resulting coating is very stable and does not disappear for a long time. This method can be used to blacken jewelry with precious stones, while the stones will not lose their natural shine and clarity.

Also, at home, a solution for blackening silver from iodine is sometimes used. Iodine is applied to a silver object with a cotton swab and left to dry in the sun. After the black color appears, it is necessary to properly polish the product with a cloth with toothpaste squeezed onto it. In convex places, the silver will become light, and in hard-to-reach places it will remain dark. Relief jewelry with intricate patterns will look great; flat products should not be subjected to such processing.

Sulfur ointment will also help give silver the desired shade and antique look. To do this, you need to completely coat the jewelry and heat it with a hairdryer, turning on the hot air. As it heats up, a black-purple color will appear, which means the blackening process was successful. All that remains is to polish the product and enjoy its unique charm.

Products made of blackened silver should be periodically cleaned of accumulated dust and dirt, but this must be done carefully so as not to remove the top layer that distinguishes such silver from all other metals. For cleaning, do not use aggressive chemicals, for example, ammonia; do not boil blackened jewelry or polish it with products containing sharp, abrasive particles.

You can always find a suitable way to clean blackened silver at home. If you need to clean a chain, earrings, or a ring made of this silver, a soap solution with a pinch of soda is useful, where you need to immerse the item and wait 15-20 minutes. During this time, severe stains will disappear; all that remains is to rinse the jewelry well under warm water and dry it. The appearance of the silver will not be affected, even if you clean it frequently using this method.

Water containing peeled raw potatoes can delicately remove stains on a blackened silver item. You should leave the decoration there for 3-4 hours, then take it out and rinse. You can simply add 15 ml of soda to a glass of water and rinse the silver in this solution. It wouldn’t hurt to rub certain areas of the product with an eraser, which is used to remove a pencil from the paper; the dirt will go away instantly.

Silver with beautiful blackened patterns is in great demand today and has many admirers. Typically, they are made of 800-grade metal, so they are quite durable and do not require constant cleaning. On sale you can find earrings, rings, pendants, bracelets, made in different styles and manners. Blackened silver jewelry is often complemented with precious stones: ruby, emerald, pearl, diamond, garnet. The cost of products with stones increases several times.

Stylish silver jewelry with elements of blackening - an ideal decoration for special celebrations and important events. They go well with a classic dress or suit and harmonize well with any clothing, except for sportswear and those overloaded with decorative elements. Such accessories are not recommended to be worn to work or in everyday life; they deserve careful treatment and admiration from others.

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Silver: blackening, its main types, cost

Silver in jewelry

Currently, jewelry making is very popular in the market. Every year in cities the number of salons and stores selling jewelry increases, despite the fact that production and extraction of raw materials is declining. The most common and sought-after metals in this craft are. The latter is more durable, inexpensive, and in addition, silver does not age a person, so it can be worn by both children and elderly people. Today, pure silver is practically never used anywhere. Its alloys are mainly used.

Copper is most often added to them. This is necessary to give the product hardness, anti-corrosion resistance and the best appearance. In Russia, several samples of silver are officially permitted. A sample is a kind of mark, a passport of a particular product. With its help, you can find out how much pure silver a product contains and how many impurities there are. For example, if it is 925, this means that there is 92.5% pure metal, and the rest is impurities. It is important to know that silver can be of several types. Let's take a closer look at each of them, in particular blackened silver.

Types of silver and their uses

Unlike gold, the appearance of silver, that is, its color, does not have variety. It is always white-silver, while gold can be yellow, red, pink and so on.

There are several types of silver: matte, filigree, sterling, coin and blackened.

They all have their own characteristics and differ from each other. So, matte silver does not have bright patterns; it is obtained through the use of various emulsions that are applied to the raw material. These emulsions impart some roughness. It looks beautiful and original. The second type is filigree. Unlike the previous one, its main feature is that multiple openwork patterns are created.

This is achieved due to the fact that silver has high strength and malleability, which allows you to make thin threads, like wire, to give the product a pattern. This is the highest skill that requires a lot of time and skill. There are openwork filigree and background filigree. The first option is characterized by a through pattern, while the second does not have it; the lace pattern is added to the background made of moonstone.

Next on the list is . It is the main material for jewelry. It has a smooth surface, white-silver color, high strength and lasts a very long time. It contains 92.5% pure silver and a copper additive.

Blackening. History and manufacturing techniques

Since ancient times, masters and craftsmen have decorated household items with various patterns, designs, and ornaments: dishes, weapons and much more. Technologies in this area have been constantly improved. Blackening is one of the processing methods in jewelry and applied arts. In Rus', blackening began to develop around the 20th century. The products of the famous master from Veliky Ustyug, Mikhail Klimshin, were very popular and in demand. A little earlier than this, in the 18th and 19th centuries, cigarette cases, dishes, trays, and snuff boxes were made using blackening elements made specifically from silver.

At first, such a craft developed only in private shops, and then factories and factories began to be built that were engaged in the manufacture of such products. Such products have always been in great demand in Rus', but not everyone could afford them, as they were not cheap. Famous masters knew many of the intricacies of their craft and passed on the knowledge they acquired to future generations, which is how it has come down to us today. Blackening is the coating of pure silver with niello to give it relief, beauty and sophistication.

Blackening technology and application

As mentioned above, this process aims to obtain a patterned product. For this, special technology is used. In this case, first of all, the product is minted or engraved, and then a special solution consisting of oxides of copper, lead and silver is applied. It is very important that the surface is clean and free of grease particles. In order for the solution to melt, the product is heated to a certain temperature. After that you're done. The result is a black pattern against a silver surface.

It has a number of advantages. The main thing is that it does not need to be constantly cleaned. But there are also limitations. For example, if you have dishes made of this material, then the blackening is removed by boiling with soda. Previously, it was very widely used due to its bactericidal properties. Amulets, valuables, and elixirs were often kept in containers made from it, which supposedly protected their owner from evil spirits and bad luck.

Silver oxidation

Nowadays, this kind of silver is quite difficult to find in the market or in stores. Basically, its analogue is sold there, that is, oxidized silver. This is a common fake, since, unlike the original, it can darken and wear out over time. The technologies described above are not used in its manufacture. It is simply covered with a special film that protects the product from tarnishing. But it is not eternal, and after some time this film is erased. This requires re-oxidation. This is of great importance because buyers can be deceived by criminals into purchasing the wrong product.

Blackened silver also costs more than regular silver. If the average cost is 1 g. Simple silver costs from 30 rubles, but when it is blackened it increases significantly. The reason for this is the great work of the craftsmen and individual, exclusive work. It should, of course, be more expensive. Therefore, when purchasing a product, you need, firstly, to carefully examine it for the presence of a mark (sample), determine whether it is blackened or not, and check the integrity and presence of documents.

Silver: making cutlery, combining with other jewelry

Previously, kitchen utensils were made from it: dishes, spoons, forks and the like. It was believed that silverware protected the family and its owner, and if for any reason it was lost, then it was a great misfortune and a bad sign. Some of the items, such as spoons, were made from silver coins. But they were not melted down or rolled out, but simply forged. In this case, one large coin served for the spatula, and the second for the handle.

Today, silver in the form of bracelets, pendants, and rings is best combined with precious or semi-precious stones. Rubies, garnets, emeralds, and pearls are very suitable for this. Silver, unlike gold, does not age a person, but makes him younger. Therefore, it is suitable for any person. You can wear silver every day or exclusively for special occasions; jewelry with precious stones is suitable for this; they will add importance and sophistication.

Based on all of the above, we can conclude that silver is one of the most common and favorite materials used in jewelry along with gold. It is inexpensive, has good physical and chemical characteristics, and most importantly, is highly valued by customers. In addition, there are several types of silver: filigree, sterling, blackened, coin. They are all good in one way or another. Blackened occupies a special place among them. Today, it is becoming less and less common in salons and increasingly so-called oxidized silver is being sold instead.

The latter may darken, requires cleaning, and the protective film is not permanent. depends on its type. For an ordinary one, it ranges from 30 rubles per year. It is important that the price does not decrease from year to year, this indicates that precious metals are an excellent investment. Many rich people keep their savings in them, and not in currency. - a rather difficult and long process. For this, a special mixture of oxides of various metals, including copper and tin, is used, which subsequently gives the decoration strength, beautiful pattern. This silver does not need to be cleaned; it has bactericidal properties, so it is safe to use. Therefore, if you love jewelry, then silver will come in handy more than ever.