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[oldsheep]

I wore my favourite ring that I've worn all the time for 10 years one too many times to the pool. It's hard to get off, so I was lazy and didn't bother. It's quite wide and silver with a pattern and a central, little blue stone (not valuable, just I love it).
The blue stone has fallen out and got lost; the silver in the ring has suddenly turned black. That must have happened when I swam yesterday afternoon as it looked ok yesterday morning.

I just wondered if it was repairable in terms of a new stone inserted? And how would I remove the black? I was going to soak it in white vinegar but didn't want to do any more damage without asking. Thanks!

[honeybun]

Gold will clean up if you soak it in alcohol. Gin,or vodka. Not sure about silver though.
A good jeweller should be able to replace the stone.

What a shame, I really hope you can get it sorted.


Honeyb
X

[bramble]

It should clean with some silver polish. Brasso if you are really stuck or a paste of bicarb of soda. Or toothpaste! A good jeweller will replace the stone no bother - I have had the pearls in my ring replaced lots of time.
Bramble

[dahliagirl]

I have a 'silver cloth' for polishing silver and this works well on jewellery too - it is less messy than polish.

[Joyce]

Toothpaste works a treat. I have a silver & gold ring which hubby got me for our silver wedding anniversary. I wore it in the pool on holiday & it turned black. A quick rub under running water with toothpaste & it looked like new.

Is it possible stone is in the pool? Of course it may be hard to tell. Take it to a good jeweller regarding the stone though.

[Scampi]

The gentlest way of cleaning metal is using washing soda and aluminium foil, and it's dead easy! 

Put a piece of foil (ordinary kitchen aluminium foil) in the bottom of a plastic bowl.  Add had-hot water and throw in a handful of basic washing soda (you can get it from most supermarkets).  Swirl the soda to dissolve.  Now put your items to clean in the solution, making sure it touches the foil - tarnish will almost drop off anywhere in the water.  A gently rub will help, and you can use a soft toothbrush to get into awkward bits.  Give it a rinse in clean water, and dry/buff with a soft cloth - job done!

This has worked on every piece of jewellry I've tried it on, and I used to clean all the trophies at school this way, as it's so easy and leaves no polish residue in corners!

[CLKD]

DON'T touch it.  Take it to a jeweller - not a retail chain but someone who makes, designs, repairs jewellery.  I had a crack in my wedding ring so DH bought me a 2nd, eventually I had them melted down by a jeweller in Banbury - all his work is done on site and nothing leaves the premises 

[oldsheep]

thank you so much everyone x
I knew I should ask on here! I will try the clean up ideas  - Scampi, yours is intriguing, will give it a go! - then the 'only' task is to find a jeweller. We have a lot of craft jewellers at our local market who sell earrings and rings, and I might ask one of them first up.
So weird that it's been to the pool with me for a couple of years and turned black just yesterday. I'm wondering how much chlorine was in the pool yesterday  !

thanks xxx

[CLKD]

Ask the local craft people before you try cleaning the ring!  It is more likely to be sulphur than chlorine ……. [DH is a chemist ;-) ]

[oldsheep]

yes, I'd have thought chlorine might clean it (bleach?). It's odd. I'll ask the jewellery stall people tomorrow if I can, or sunday.
I tried the toothpaste which hasn't worked. I've added soda crystals to my supermarket delivery tomorrow.
Assume that's what you meant by 'washing soda' as a search for that just brings up laundry detergent.
If that's no good, I'll use the soda crystals on my drains!

Feeling more positive that it's repairable, so thank you x

[Rowan]

I think if it was my ring oldsheep I would take it to a reputable Jewellers for help on cleaning and for a stone to be replaced.

[Scampi]

Yes Oldsheep - soda crystals.  I checked on-line (as it's a while since I bought any!) to make sure it's the right stuff - you can enhance the cleaning effect by adding some common table salt too.  It removes the silver sulphates that cause the tarnish.

[CLKD]

I reiterate - take it to the jewellery stall!

[oldsheep]

Not well today but if I'm able tomorrow will take it to the jewellery stall first. I tried toothpaste for a sec and it got enough off for me to notice that the stone hasn't fallen out but had also gone black.

[CLKD]

Oh that is GREAT! ………

Oh, the stone being there, not your feeling poorly 

No rush then - it will wait until you feel better!