Nearly all metals will tarnish. Silver develops a yellowish-black coating on its surface when exposed to hydrogen sulfide (H2S), which is present in small quantities in the atmosphere. Tarnish is oxidation. Oxidation occurs when metal reacts with the air, perfume, hand sanitizer, harsh soaps, pool chlorine, and even skin oils or sweat. Salt air the coast will significantly degrade anti-tarnish coatings
Jewelry metals that do not tarnish 24 Karat Gold – 24 Karat is 99.9% pure gold. 18 Karat is 75% pure gold. 14 Karat is 58%. Less than 24 Karat gold will exhibit tarnish, usually in the form of darkening. Titanium, Tungsten, Fine Silver, Platinum, Stainless Steel ALL
OTHER JEWELRY WIRE AND METALS WILL TARNISH
JEWELRY WIRE IS TARNISH RESISTANT Our metallic wire
and findings are tarnish resistant. A chemical barrier is applied to the metal to inhibit oxidation. Under proper care, they will not tarnish for a significant amount of time. Our wire has the most durable coating on the market. The protective coating will eventually be worn off by wear and tear, cleaning, exposure to compounds in the air. Extended periods of direct sunlight and/or water/humidity exposure may weaken the coating and/or cause it to become faded/discolored. Be gentle and kind to your wire and it will stay beautiful for many years to come
Metal we carry
Charms – Charms are primarily pewter. Pewter is made of tin with additions of antimony, bismuth, and copper. Tarnish usually shows as a darkening of the metal.
Wire – Our colored copper core wire is divided into two categories: Metallic and Silver Plated. • Metallic: The base wire is 99% pure copper, with a tinted, flexible, baked-on coating to give the wire its color and to keep it from tarnishing. The “Natural” color is copper with a clear coating. Bare copper has no coatings and will tarnish. • Silver Plated: These wires have a pure copper base plated with a layer of fine silver. Over the silver, a tinted, flexible, baked-on coating is applied to both give the wire its color (the coating is clear in the case of the silver color) and inhibit tarnishing. Colored wire is lead- and nickel-free. Our wire is soft or medium temper. Soft is easily worked. Medium is harder to work, but retains its final shape better. As metal is worked, it will become harder. Soldering color coated wire is not recommended. The thin coatings will quickly burn off and expose the copper core. Bare copper wire can be soldered. Pewter charms cannot be soldered.
