How to Oxidize Silver and Copper Jewelry with Liver of Sulphur

Look at the color of that silver! Blackened to perfection. I neglected to take a picture of the before, but everyone knows what shiny white silver looks like right?

I am a bit of a jewelry magazine junkie so I know that wire wrapping has been a popular topic in the past couple of years. You have probably admired gorgeous patinated jewelry and wondered how that's done. Well read on and I'll tell you how I blacken silver and copper.

Liver of Sulphur is a chemical you can buy from a jewelry supply vendor (I get mine from Lacy and Co. in Canada). It's a little stinky, like rotten eggs so make sure you use it in a well ventilated area.

When you open the jar, you will see sharp lumpy rocklike chunks. Before I knew what it looked like, I had always wondered so I took a picture for you, dear reader.

Here are the steps I use to oxidize silver and copper.

1. Put a pea-sized chunk in a glass bowl that is big enough to hold the item you wish to oxidize. Break up a bigger piece if necessary by smashing it with something hard.
2. Fill the bowl with hot tap water.
3. Use a plastic or wooden implement to mix the solution until the liver of sulphur is dissolved.
4. Place your item in the hot water solution and leave it there until it darkens to your satisfaction. The longer you leave it, the darker it gets.
   
5. Take your item out of the solution and rinse it well with water. I use hot water and then cold when I rinse.
   
6. I flush the solution down the toilet when I no longer need it. I always make up a new solution when I oxidize. I don't know what happens if you try to reuse the solution but the chemical is so inexpensive I have never looked into reusing it.

*Always remember to use gloves whenever you handle any kind of chemical

That's it!

Here are some additional tips:

• Oxidizing seems to work better if you can keep the solution hot. I use a coffee cup warmer under my glass bowl.
• Oxidizing wire beforehand is a great time saver and has no effect on the finished jewelry in my opinion.
• Polishing your finished oxidized jewelry creates depth; the crevices remain dark, while the shininess of the raised polished parts of the piece add extra interest.
• Using a tumbler to polish is another great time saver that imparts a beautiful shine not easily accomplished when hand polishing.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.
Next tutorial: Tumble-polishing your oxidized silver jewelry.

Resources mentioned: Lacy and Company Online Store : Jewellery Tools and Supplies