| Many people that have an interest in gold jewelry | | | | can actually cause the jewelry to trap various |
| and coins often will claim that tarnished gold | | | | acids, compounds, and other elements which will |
| doesn't exist, however, that's the furthest thing | | | | cause a form of local tarnishing wherever the |
| from the truth. Pure gold will not tarnish, but it is | | | | foreign impurities gets trapped. |
| rare to find jewelry that contains this pure | | | | Jewelry can be kept from tarnishing by storing it |
| element. When pure gold is added to alloyed gold, | | | | in a pouch or bag in a dry atmosphere. You should |
| such as 18 carat or higher, this will also lessen the | | | | also polish your jewelry regularly to remove |
| risk of tarnishing, with the exception of a few | | | | contaminants and other inconsistencies. You can |
| conditions. Tarnishing is generally only seen in | | | | even have the item electroplated with pure 24 |
| smaller carats, depending on the base metals and | | | | carat gold which will prevent tarnish for awhile, but |
| the elements that each one is exposed to. For | | | | will eventually wear through with use and age. |
| example, if a 10 carat gold piece has a decent | | | | Some countries such as India and the Middle |
| amount of copper in it, it can oxidize, creating a | | | | Eastern countries do experience a blackening of |
| red or black tarnish. Silver also exposed to the | | | | higher carat gold pieces, and no one seems to |
| elements when combined with gold produces black | | | | know the cause. Generally, it is related to a |
| tarnish. | | | | different lifestyle and condition or environment, |
| So what causes tarnished gold? When gold is | | | | since the problem doesn't occur elsewhere in the |
| mixed with these base metals, as it almost | | | | world, but no one knows for sure. |
| always is, exposure to environmental factors that | | | | When it comes to coin collecting, many consider a |
| are going to have an effect on the metals. | | | | bit of tarnishing, or toning as it is called in collecting |
| Moisture, organic vapors, oxygen and sulphur | | | | circles, to be highly desirable. Gold coins rarely |
| compounds in the atmosphere, and even human | | | | tarnish because of their purity, but some |
| sweat and oil from human touch can make gold | | | | exceptional toned coins exist and this toning |
| tarnish if it is mixed with a high amount of base | | | | makes them all the more valuable. You may want |
| metals. Surprisingly, perfumes and deodorants | | | | to clean your jewelry to have it restored to its |
| with certain chemicals in them can also affect gold | | | | original shine, but all coin collectors know to never, |
| to a point that it will tarnish. | | | | ever clean the tarnish off their coins. In fact it is a |
| One of the most surprising offenders that cause | | | | general rule to not clean your coins in any way. |
| gold to tarnish is certain food products. Pickles, | | | | Collectors desire the antique look of an old coin |
| fruit juices, onions, and other items with high | | | | and want that look preserved. Cleaning highly |
| acidity or sulphur compounds are likely to create a | | | | collectible gold coins can ruin their value. |
| tarnishing affect on gold that is less than pure. | | | | Just remember it is perfectly okay to clean |
| Sometimes the way a piece of jewelry or | | | | tarnish off of your beautiful jewelry, but never |
| something made of gold is manufactured can | | | | clean the tone off of valuable old gold coins. Stick |
| have an effect on its susceptibility to tarnishing. | | | | by these rules and keep your gold valuables of |
| Items that are cast by lost wax casting and | | | | any kind in the best condition and highest valuable |
| other methods that leave a micro-porous surface | | | | possible. |