The most likely reasons for gold discoloration are metallic abrasion low quality plating and corrosion.
Yellow gold ring on dark skin.
Of course there are also those somewhat non conventional colors such as black and green gold for example but let s focus on the most popular ones.
Remember 14k gold means the ring has 58 of pure gold and 42 of non gold alloys the alloys that can corrode are silver and copper based and they can form dark chemical compounds under moist conditions.
Jewelry for warm skin tones.
The degree of gold s purity is determined by karats.
If your skin is naturally acidic it may react with the copper used in gold jewelry to create a green discoloration on the skin.
Certain rings especially those containing copper and silver alloys will leave a black smudge on the skin if enough salt is present.
When you sweat fats and fatty acids are released which can cause.
Some people will experience discoloration with even the purest of gold jewelry while others will not regardless of the purity.
It complements the undertones of your skin and looks.
Gold jewelry can also darken when it s frequently exposed to soap lotion and everyday grime.
Jewelry made of pure gold doesn t tarnish because it doesn t corrode or oxidize but gold pieces made with an alloy such as copper or silver may tarnish and turn black.
Designs crafted in classic yellow gold or rich rose gold look fantastic on those with warm skin tones.
The gold does not corrode but the alloys that are mixed with the gold.
The colors that go best with warm skin tones are yellow gold and copper toned metals.
To avoid this rings should be taken off when hands are exposed to salt.
For example a 10 karat gold ring is 10 24 gold the rest being made up of base metals.
Gold rings can turn your fingers black.
Warm skin tones are identifiable by greenish colored veins.
Yellow gold and skin tone.
It is commonly found in 12k 14k and 18k in jewelry and comes in a variety of shades from faint yellow pink to dark rose.
Rose gold looks stunning on all skin types from the palest to the darkest.
Jewelry made from 14 karat gold is as close to pure as functionally possible though some decorative pieces not meant to be worn are even more pure.
People with warmer skin tones may notice yellow or golden apricot undertones when looking in the mirror.
Hard metals from other jewelry or cosmetics can turn the color of gold.
Simply exposing the hands to salted nuts crackers or popcorn can cause such corrosion and thus discolor skin.
As with yellow gold the amount of pure gold is what gives it its value.
Essentially a karat is a fraction divided up into 24ths.
These are white metals yellow gold and rose gold.
To avoid this side effect of gold jewelry only wear higher quality and more pure gold such as 18 karat gold.
People with darker skin are not usually warm skinned.
The plating itself can discolor especially to yellow since many plates are made with rhodium rather than palladium which is more resistant to discoloration.
