Patina - what is it and how to remove it from jewelry?

Surely you have noticed more than once an alarming raid on your favorite bracelet or an old ring from your grandmother. This is the patina, also called patina, that forms on copper and its alloys. Luckily, patina can be removed in a few easy ways to restore your favorite pieces of jewelry to their former glory.

What is patina?

Patina this is the last stage of corrosion of copper alloys. It appears as a light green, gray or brown coating of irregular shape. It is formed under the influence of weather conditions, more precisely moisture and carbon monoxide. The process of coating a metal surface with satin takes several decades, and the first symptoms can be noticed after a few months. Plaque can be removed home methodshowever, some precautions should be taken not to damage the jewelry.

What to look for?

When cleaning jewelry, remember to use non-invasive measureswhich will be safe not only for the metal, but also for ourselves. In addition, it should be used to clean soft tissues microfiber or flannel. The decoration itself must be cleaned carefully, without applying much effort. Finally, decorations must be carefully rinse with clean water and let them dry naturallyso that there are no ugly spots. It's worth it Polishto add shine to your jewelry.

Lemon juice with salt

This is definitely one of the most popular removal methods. patina, because most of us have the ingredients for this preparation in the kitchen. If we are dealing with a large element, half lemons we sprinkle onlyand then wipe the tarnished jewelry with it. The patina should disappear after a few seconds. The thicker the layer patina, the more time we have for the lemon and salt to take effect. If, on the other hand, we want to remove patina from a small earring or pendant, we can squeeze a little lemon juice into a bowl and mix it with salt, and then throw the jewelry we want to clean into the resulting solution. Residues can be removed with a soft cloth moistened with our product. 

vinegar with salt

Another option to remove patina is to create a mixture with vinegar and salt. Add salt and vinegar to boiling water in a ratio of 1:1. Pour the prepared preparation into a container and place the jewelry in it for 3 hours. after this time patina it should disappear and we can wash and polish our jewelry.

Lemon juice and baking soda

Another way, for which we also need a small amount of ingredients, is lemon juice and baking soda paste. The mixture should have the consistency of wet sand. Using a cloth, apply the paste to the jewelry and rub it in gently until the desired effect is achieved. Finally, rinse everything thoroughly under warm water. 

As you can see, thanks to a few simple methods, we can remove even thick layers. raidwithout having to return the piece to the jeweler for repair. homemade ingredients and the ease of execution means that many people who want to give their jewelry a second life use such methods.