Hoop earrings discolour mainly through contact with air, skin, sweat and beauty products. On silver hoops, this creates a dark layer known as tarnish. On gold coloured hoops, the thin gold layer wears away where they rub the most, such as at the clasp and the bottom of the ring. The good news: with a few simple habits, your hoops stay beautiful for much longer.
You wear a hoop close to your skin and often all day long. That makes this earring more prone to discolouring than, say, a ring you take off now and then. In this blog you will read what exactly happens, where you see it first and what you can do about it. That way your hoop earrings stay as lovely as on the day you bought them.
What happens when a hoop earring discolours?
Discolouring is not a sign of poor quality, but a natural reaction of metal to its surroundings.
Silver reacts with sulphur in the air
Sterling silver is 92.5 percent silver. The rest is usually copper, which makes the metal stronger. Silver reacts with sulphur in the air and on your skin. This creates a grey or black layer on the surface. That is called oxidation, or simply: tarnish.
A gold layer wears at friction points
A gold plated hoop has a core of 925 sterling silver with a layer of gold on top. That layer is thin. Where the hoop moves a lot, it slowly wears away. First you see a slightly lighter spot. After that the silver core shows through, and that in turn may darken.
Where do you see discolouring on hoops first?
On hoop earrings, discolouring almost always shows up in the same three places.
At the clasp and the post
The post goes through your earlobe every day. There it touches skin oils and sweat. You also open and close the clasp often. That mix of moisture and friction means you notice something here first. Not quite sure how your clasp works? Then first read how a hoop earring opens and closes, so you handle it gently.
On the bottom of the ring
The bottom of a hoop sometimes touches your neck, your scarf or the collar of your coat. That is why exactly that part rubs the most. On an angular model, like a square hoop, you see it on the corners. A smooth, round model often wears more evenly.
Around the stones
If your hoop has zirconia stones, dirt and soap residue collect around the setting more quickly. That looks like a dull edge. Often it is not the metal discolouring, but a layer of dirt you easily remove again.
What speeds up the discolouring of hoops?
A few everyday things make hoops turn dull or dark faster.
Perfume, hairspray and body lotion
You often spray perfume and hairspray right around your ears. The alcohol and oils in these products affect silver and a gold layer. So put your hoops in once you have finished your hair and perfume. A small effort with a big effect.
Water, sweat and chlorine
Showering, swimming and working out with hoops speeds up wear. Chlorine in the pool and salt in sea water are the toughest on metal. Sweat during exercise also causes more tarnish. So take your hoops out before you exercise or go for a swim.
Storing them in a damp room
Do you leave your hoops on the bathroom sink after wearing them? Then they sit in steam and moisture every day. Store them in a dry box or pouch instead, apart from your other jewellery. That way they do not scratch each other either.
How do you keep hoops beautiful for longer?
With a few simple habits you delay discolouring considerably.
Wipe your hoops with a dry, soft cloth after wearing them. This removes skin oils and sweat before they can settle in. Do not use harsh cleaning products or scouring pads, because they damage the gold layer. You can read more background on gold in the blog on whether gold turns black or discolours.
Prefer silver? The same rules apply. In the blog on how to keep silver jewellery looking beautiful you will find even more practical tips. The nice thing about silver is that tarnish usually comes off well.
At Sparkling Jewels, the hoops are made of 925 sterling silver with a gold plated or rhodium plated finish. Founder Sharon van het Hof regularly visits the workshops in Italy, Bangkok and Hong Kong and checks details such as the clasp there. The plating on hoops comes with a 6 month warranty, and manufacturing defects with a 2 year warranty. Unsure about a spot on your earring? Always keep your proof of purchase.
Which hoops discolour the slowest?
Your choice of finish and shape makes a difference in how quickly you notice discolouring.
Rhodium plated keeps its shine for a long time
Rhodium is a hard metal from the platinum family. A rhodium plated layer over silver gives a bright, white shine and protects the silver from tarnish. If you like a silver look, this is a practical choice.
Smooth models are easy to care for
You wipe a hoop with a smooth surface clean in a few seconds. Models with a twist, facets or stones have more edges where dirt gets stuck. That is no reason not to choose them, but they need a little more attention. Take your time browsing the gold and silver hoops and pick a model that suits how much time you want to spend on care.
Frequently asked questions about discoloured hoops
I'm happy to answer a few frequently asked questions:
Can a discoloured hoop still be saved?
Yes, in many cases. You remove tarnish on silver with a silver polishing cloth. If the gold layer itself has worn away, polishing will not bring the old colour back. A jeweller can sometimes have a hoop replated.
Do silver hoops give you a black earlobe?
Sometimes you see a grey line on your skin. That comes from the reaction between silver, sweat and skin oils. Clean and dry your hoop and your earlobe, and it usually disappears quickly.
Do hoops discolour faster in summer?
In summer you sweat more and often use sunscreen. Both speed up tarnish and wear. Put your hoops in after applying sunscreen and give them a quick wipe in the evening.
Want to know more, or have questions? The experts at Sparkling Jewels are happy to help.
