Is Any Special Care Required for Black Chain Necklaces?

Silver usually has a gray hue, whereas gold has yellowish tones. But these metals can be darkened to give a rustic look to chain necklaces. Regardless of the metal, chain necklaces deserve proper maintenance. So, is any special care required for black chain necklaces?

Due to the color and simplistic appearance of a black chain necklace, many consider it low maintenance. But just like any other jewelry piece, black chains require proper care to retain their oxidation, preventing the exposure of the metal underneath.

Unfortunately, the color on a black chain necklace will fade away after some time of wearing it. But there are some things you can do to prevent it from fading quickly, enabling you to wear the necklace as many times as you want. Thus, let’s learn how to care for black chain necklaces.

Is Any Special Care Required For Black Chain Necklaces?

Many people love the appearance of black chain necklaces because they look tarnished, offering a vintage look. But it’s unlikely for chemically oxidized chain necklaces to stay black forever, especially if you wear them almost every day.

To properly maintain a black metal necklace chain, you must focus on safety and protection. After all, the black layer on top of another metal contains sulfur or other chemicals that may irritate your skin and cause uncomfortable rashes.

Before cleaning a black chain necklace, you must research and discover suitable products and techniques for this purpose. Since many of you want to know if any special care is required for black chain necklaces, let’s dive in and discover together.

How To Prevent Black Chain Necklaces From Fading

Regardless of how hard you try to prevent the color of black chain necklaces from fading, it’s bound to happen. But there are ways to keep the color on for longer. You just have to focus on avoiding practices that might cause discoloration and damage.

Where you keep your black chain necklaces might also influence the color to wear off. Thus, let’s see how you can retain the surface color and ensure its longevity.

Avoid silver cleaning solvents

Usually, silver cleaning solvents are used to polish the surface and prevent the metal from tarnishing. But in the case of oxidized silver, our purpose is to keep the blackened tone on the chain necklace. Thus, avoid cleaning both types of jewelry with the same products.

To do this safely at home, mix warm water and liquid soap. Soak your oxidized jewelry piece in the solution and let it sit for a few minutes. Then, pat it dry with a soft towel or let it air dry completely.

Store them properly

Like any other material used to produce chain necklaces, the black oxidized layer cannot withstand the power of direct sunlight. Thus, ensure you store your black chain necklaces in a dark and cool place to prevent the sun rays from melting off the color.

Also, store your black chain necklaces separately from your silver or gold chains. Keeping them too close might cause the black color to transfer to the other chain necklaces and cause damage.

Don’t expose them to water

Just as the heat may cause the black color to wear off, the same thing applies to water. Avoid showering and swimming with your black chain necklaces to ensure the prolonged durability of your jewelry piece and less frequent need for cleaning.

Additional Care Tips

We gathered some additional tips to help you ensure proper maintenance and cleaning care for your black chain necklaces.

Please note that the below-mentioned tips are not proven ways of preventing the black color from fading. Instead, they are simply some daily practices to help you provide the best preventative care for your black jewelry.

Wipe after wearing

After each time wearing a black chain necklace, wipe it with a soft cloth. This is to ensure you remove any dirt that might get stuck on the dark layer. Leaving residues on a black chain necklace for too long may cause rapid discoloration and decrease quality.

Prevent scratches

Since the black overlay has another metal under it, visible scratches might expose the radiance of silver or gold. If you can, store each black chain necklace individually and make sure they don’t touch each other or rub on any nearby surface that can cause scratching.

Avoid excessive moisture

We are often unaware that sunscreens, perfumes, and body lotions can damage the quality of our jewelry pieces, including black chain necklaces. Moisturizers may cause the black color to rub off in close contact with the skin.

Avoid applying moisturizing products on any areas where you wear jewelry. Plus, fragrances last longer when sprayed on clothing than directly on the skin.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can blackened silver be re-oxidized?

It is possible to restore the color of black chain necklaces after it has faded. The safest way to do this is to contact a professional in this field. But some people do it at home by applying sulfur solutions to their jewelry and leaving it to air dry completely before wearing it again.

Are black chain necklaces high quality?

Although covered with a black layer that prevents the original sheen from coming through, a black silver chain is still very valuable. The same applies to a black gold chain, which is also considered high quality and durable.

How often should I clean my black chain necklaces?

If you maintain your black chain necklaces properly, you won’t have to clean them very often. But if you need to polish your black chains every few wears, you are doing something wrong. Black chain necklaces can stay clear for a couple of months.

Conclusion

So, is any special care required for black chain necklaces? Even though black chains are easy maintenance, you still need to provide them with proper care as you would with any other silver or gold jewelry.