QuestionDear Thomas, I am so greatful to have found you--and on my first try!! I bought a silver ring and was in love with it because of the particular look of the matte finish. It was sooo very matte that it was almost white. It was very dull, like pewter. It was slightly textural, as if it had a laser finish, but it wasnt lasered at all. Finally, the powdery, whitish, matte finish had a definite coppery hue. It was very subtle, but that pinky hue was there. Thats what attracted me to it most. I think you discussed with a previous questioner, that if she left her silver piece in the pickle for a longer time, it would be whiter and I remember reading something you wrote about bringing up the copper content in the silver, which, I am guessing, may be that pinkish hue that I saw and loved on my ring. Here comes the sad part. I had the ring sized. The jeweler didnt speak English and I had a few people with me who told him that it was important to me that the highly matte, powdery, coppery finish be preserved during sizing. When I got the ring back, I didnt recognize it at all. It was as shiny as a mirror and oxidation was rubbed onto the top surface--which has a tree-bark kind of texture, so the ring was very dark and very shiny. He tried to restore the matte quality I wanted by using a sanding wheel--electric. No matter how much he went over the surface, it was still shiny. Some of the oxidation is gone but the magical, white or light and powdery/coppery matte finish eludes us--we cant get it back. I am thinking that it needs some kind of liquid chemical to restore it. I wish we knew the artist or company but my dealer didnt remember. She bought 4 rings at a trade show from a small design company. Each piece was different but 2 of them had my great finish so I bought the other one, even though its way too big. I do have it here for reference. I can photograph it and try to send the photo to you but its a regular camera--not digital--and I will be downloading a photo CD that comes with the pics when they are developed. WHEW! I hope you're not overwhelmed. As I said at first, I'm so greatful to have found ANY sort of help on my first try. Can you give me a clue as to what happened to my ring? Can it be restored? Can YOU restore it or recommend any place that can do that? Should I send you a photo of the second ring with the matte-white-coppery finish?? I thank you so much for your time and effort. Sincerely Yours, Maxine Klein--Brooklyn, NY.
AnswerMaxine, unfortunately I cannot accept work through this sight. I have worked with a few questioners on designs but doing the work is not possible, certainly at this time when we are shorthanded in the jewelry shop and I am working day by day.
I suspect the jeweler did not have the silver properly protected from tarnish and when heated that discolored the white part. The jeweler may have then polished it and applied an antique finish, perhaps believing that was desired. Who really knows for certain. : )
My suggestion is to find another jeweler to try and get the work done. The texture may be left as is or if a fine sandblasting is available use that for a better result. Then the ring will need to be heated and while hot put in a pickle (mild acid) solution. The process is repeated to gain a uniform color and coverage. Parts which are not to be matte will be buffed to a shine or what finish might be desired.
Keep in mind, the finish on you ring may have been a special finish of some sort, perhaps done chemically or by electroplate. That finish may be almost impossible to duplicate. However, the process mentioned above should give a nice matte white to the ring. Over time, burnishing and rubbing of the white surface during routine wear will diminish the matte finish. You may expect this to happen.
Maxine, I wish I could help more. God Bless and Peace. Thomas.
