Posted on January 07 2018
For most people sterling silver rings should NOT turn your finger green. Very rarely people can experience the green finger phenomena with sterling silver and even low karat gold alloys (typically less than 1% of people).
The reason this happens is because of the item’s metal content. It’s either a chemical reaction between the acids in your skin and the type of metal of the jewelry, or it’s a reaction between another substance on your skin, such as hand cream, with the metal. If your ring is marked as sterling silver but still turns your figure green, there is a very high possibility that the ring is not actually made of sterling silver.
There are plenty of metals that oxidize or react with your skin, which is what causes the skin discoloration. You might notice a ring around your finger if you were wearing a ring made of copper or a similar metal. It’s common for fashion jewelry to be made using the metal copper, and many have a plating of a different metal on top. Turning your skin green isn’t harmful, however it can be embarrassing to the wearer.
It doesn’t matter how high-end your jewelry is though, many people can have a sensitivity to it. Even jewelry made of sterling silver or gold can produce some discoloration for some people. Advice for preventing your skin from turning green isn’t as simple as avoiding less costly jewelry.
Some important things to try include:
Keeping lotions, soap and other chemicals away from your skin.
Remove rings prior to washing your hands, or applying hand cream.
Remove jewelry before bathing or swimming - especially if it’s in salt water.
Most importantly don't be the victim of fake sterling silver rings! At Laszlo V we only use the finest 100% genuine 925 Sterling Silver for our items and use Platinum plating to ensure this will never happen to you. Wear our items with full confidence they will not react in this way. Happy Shopping and Happy New Year!
Laszlo V